The　present　study　prepares　novel　Zr70 + xAl5Fe15 − xNb10　(x = 0,　5)　alloys　by　arc-melting　for　potential　biomedical　application.　The　mechanical　properties　and　bio-tribological　behaviors　of　the　Zr-based　alloys　are　evaluated　and　compared　with　biomedical　pure　Zr.　The　as-prepared　alloys　exhibit　a　microstructure　containing　a　micrometer-sized　dendritic　beta-Zr　phase　dispersed　in　a　Zr2Fe-typed　matrix.　It　is　found　that　increasing　the　content　of　Zr　is　favorable　for　the　mechanical　compatibility　with　a　combination　of　low　Young＇s　modulus,　large　plasticity,　and　high　compressive　strength.　The　wear　resistance　of　the　Zr-Al-Fe-Nb　alloys　in　air　and　phosphate　buffer　saline　(PBS)　solution　is　superior　to　that　of　pure　Zr.　The　wear　mechanism　of　Zr-based　alloys　sliding　in　air　is　controlled　by　oxidation　and　abrasive　wear　whereas　that　sliding　in　PBS　is　controlled　by　synergistic　effects　of　the　abrasive　and　corrosive　wear.　Electrochemical　measurements　demonstrate　that　the　Zr-based　alloys　are　corrosion　resistant　in　PBS.　Their　bio-corrosion　resistance　is　improved　with　the　increase　in　Zr　content,　which　is　attributed　to　the　enrichment　in　Zr　and　decrease　in　Al　concentration　in　the　surface　passive　film　of　alloys.　The　Zr75Al5Fe10Nb10　exhibits　the　best　corrosion　resistance　in　PBS,　which　contributes　to　its　superior　wear　resistance　in　a　simulated　body　environment.　The　combination　of　good　mechanical　properties,　corrosion　resistance,　and　biotribological　behaviors　of　the　Zr-Al-Fe-Nb　alloys　offers　them　potential　advantages　in　biomedical　applications.　©　2017　Elsevier　B.V.