###### Abstract  
Biomedical devices made from high-modulus and hardness materials play a critical role in enhancing the quality of life for people with bone-related ailments. While these materials have been successfully used in orthopedic applications, concerns including stress-shielding have necessitated the exploration of alternative solutions. An ideal biomedical implant requires a delicate balance of mechanical performance, corrosion resistance, tissue biocompatibility, and other properties such as tribological performance and osseointegration. This review explores the suitability of biodegradable magnesium (Mg) alloys as a promising material for biomedical implants. It delves into the essential properties of biomedical implants, emphasizing the importance of matching mechanical characteristics with human bone properties to mitigate stress shielding. The corrosion properties of implant materials are discussed, highlighting the need for controlled degradation to ensure the safety and longevity of implants. The focus then shifts to the potential of magnesium alloys as biomedical implants, examining their benefits, limitations, and the challenges associated with their high degradation rates and less-than-satisfactory mechanical properties. Alloying with elements such as aluminum, zinc, and others is explored to improve magnesium alloys' mechanical performance and corrosion resistance. Furthermore, this review discusses surface modification techniques, including chemical conversion coatings and biomimetic deposition, as effective strategies to enhance the corrosion resistance and biocompatibility of magnesium and its alloys. These modifications offer opportunities to improve the long-term performance of magnesium-based biomedical implants. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the properties, challenges, and potential solutions associated with biodegradable magnesium alloys as a promising material for biomedical implants. It underscores the importance of addressing problems related to mechanical performance, corrosion resistance, and biocompatibility to advance the development of safe and effective biomedical implant materials. m 22 October 2023  
implanted devices to replace compromised biological structures [8]. Conditions such as osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, and trauma further compound the challenges older patients face, potentially leading to localized pain and physical deterioration in the functionality of hard tissues [9]. Addressing this problem has involved substantial time and effort invested over several decades in the development of various orthopedic implants [10]. Metal-based implants crafted from materials such as titanium-based, cobalt-based, or stainless-steel alloys have emerged as prominent choices in load-bearing orthopedic applications due to their high-modulus mechanical properties. However, research has revealed that these implant materials are susceptible to stress-shielding, a side-effect wherein a high-modulus orthopedic implant bears such a substantial load that the adjacent bone, lacking its typical load, undergoes deterioration [11]. Ideal biomedical implants must possess three fundamental characteristics: mechanical performance, corrosion resistance, and tissue biocompatibility, alongside other essential attributes, including tribological behavior, osseointegration, and non-toxicity [12]. Introducing a biomedical implant into the body involves multiple interactions at the tissue-implant interface. These interactions define the biocompatibility of an implant, significantly impacting its biological and mechanical performance [13; 14; 15]. For instance, if an orthopedic material releases toxic elements, it cannot be considered biocompatible. Therefore, selecting materials for biomedical implants necessitates a paramount focus on non-toxic, biocompatible substances that closely mimic the elastic modulus and strength of human bone [16; 17; 18; 19; 20; 21].