Abstract: Provided herein are magnesium-based sponges and foams and methods for surface modification to enhance bioactivity. The magnesium-based sponges and foams may be useful as tissue or bone grafts which promote cellular adhesion and osseointegration and conduction, as well as various other biological functions including, for example, antibacterial properties, hydrophobicity or hydrophilicity and the ability to modulate immune response. The described sponges and foams have precise mechanical properties which are specifically designed for enhanced integration with surrounding tissue. The described magnesium-based materials are bioresorbable, allowing for the gradual, safe absorption of the material when exposed to bodily fluids.