A comprehensive review on metallic biomaterials for airway stenosis repair.

• Research progress of metal tracheal stents is introduced in detail. • Traditional inert metallic tracheal stents have been introduced. • Biodegradable metallic tracheal stents have been summarized. In recent years, the incidence of airway stenosis in respiratory diseases increases year by year. Among many treatment methods, tracheal stent implantation is a very effective way. Metallic stents have been the first choice for tracheal stent implantation due to their excellent mechanical properties, low rate of migration, and minimal effect on the ciliary movement of the trachea. In this paper, the research progress of metal tracheal stents is introduced in detail from three aspects of mechanical properties, degradation properties, and biocompatibility, including traditional inert metallic tracheal stents and new degradable metallic tracheal stents, and its future research and development are prospected: although the current research on biodegradable metal tracheal stents is still in its infancy, with only some studies of magnesium-based, iron-based, and zinc-based tracheal stents, they are considered as the best material for preparing future metal tracheal scaffolds considering their biodegradability and biocompatibility. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]