Magnetostrictive alloys have attracted increasing attention in biomedical applications because of the ability to generate reversible deformation in the presence of external magnetic fields. This review focuses on the advances in magnetostrictive alloys and their biomedical applications. The theories of magnetostriction are systematically summarized. The different types of magnetostrictive alloys and their preparation methods are also reviewed in detail. The magnetostrictive strains and phase compositions of typical magnetostrictive alloys, including iron based, rare-earth based and ferrite materials, are presented. Besides, a variety of approaches to preparing rods, blocks and films of magnetostriction materials, as well as the corresponding methods and setups for magnetostriction measurement, are summarized and discussed. Moreover, the interactions between magnetostrictive alloys and cells are analyzed and emphasis is placed on the transduction and transformation process of mechanochemical signals induced by magnetostriction. The latest applications of magnetostrictive alloys in remote microactuators, magnetic field sensors, wireless implantable devices and biodegradable implants are also reviewed. Furthermore, future research directions of magnetostrictive alloys are prospected with focus on their potential applications in remote cell actuation and bone repair.

磁致伸缩合金由于能够在外部磁场存在下产生可逆变形，因此在生物医学应用中引起了越来越多的关注。本综述重点关注磁致伸缩合金及其生物医学应用的进展。对磁致伸缩的理论进行了系统的总结。还详细介绍了不同类型的磁致伸缩合金及其制备方法。介绍了典型磁致伸缩合金（包括铁基、稀土基和铁氧体材料）的磁致伸缩应变和相组成。此外，还总结和讨论了磁致伸缩材料棒、块和薄膜的各种制备方法，以及相应的磁致伸缩测量方法和装置。此外，还分析了磁致伸缩合金与细胞之间的相互作用，重点研究了磁致伸缩引起的力化学信号的转导和转化过程。还回顾了磁致伸缩合金在远程微执行器、磁场传感器、无线植入设备和可生物降解植入物中的最新应用。此外，还展望了磁致伸缩合金的未来研究方向，重点关注其在远程细胞驱动和骨修复方面的潜在应用。