Advanced High-Entropy Biomaterials (HEBs)

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Biomedical Engineering
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• High-entropy materials (HEMs) feature multi-principal elements, leading to unique effects like high-entropy and lattice distortion.
• These effects grant HEMs exceptional mechanical, catalytic, and multifunctional properties beneficial for biomedicine.
• The application of HEMs in biomedicine, termed high-entropy biomaterials (HEBs), is rapidly growing but lacks comprehensive review.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a comprehensive review of high-entropy biomaterials (HEBs) and their biomedical applications.
• To elucidate the fundamental characteristics of HEBs, linking their core effects to physicochemical properties.
• To discuss future challenges and opportunities in HEB development and clinical translation.

Main Methods:

• Literature review and synthesis of recent advances in high-entropy biomaterials.
• Analysis of the fundamental principles governing HEBs, including entropy, lattice distortion, diffusion, and cocktail effects.
• Categorization and discussion of current and emerging biomedical applications of HEBs.

Main Results:

• HEBs exhibit tunable properties derived from their unique composition and core effects.
• Key applications include bone tissue engineering, vascular stents, tumor therapy, anti-inflammatory treatments, antimicrobial strategies, and biosensing.
• The review highlights the significant potential of HEBs across diverse biomedical fields.

Conclusions:

• HEBs represent a promising class of materials for advanced biomedical applications due to their tunable properties.
• Future research should focus on biosafety evaluations and integrating computational tools for rational HEB design.
• Accelerating clinical translation requires addressing challenges in design, manufacturing, and regulatory approval.