Synergistic integration of metal nanoclusters and biomolecules as hybrid systems for therapeutic applications

Abstract

Therapeutic nanoparticles are designed to enhance efficacy, real-time monitoring, targeting accuracy, biocompatibility, biodegradability, safety, and the synergy of diagnosis and treatment of diseases by leveraging the unique physicochemical and biological properties of well-developed bio-nanomaterials. Recently, bio-inspired metal nanoclusters (NCs) consisting of several to roughly dozens of atoms (<2 nm) have attracted increasing research interest, owing to their ultrafine size, tunable fluorescent capability, good biocompatibility, variable metallic composition, and extensive surface bio-functionalization. Hybrid core–shell nanostructures that effectively incorporate unique fluorescent inorganic moieties with various biomolecules, such as proteins (enzymes, antigens, and antibodies), DNA, and specific cells, create fluorescently visualized molecular nanoparticle. The resultant nanoparticles possess combinatorial properties and synergistic efficacy, such as simplicity, active bio-responsiveness, improved applicability, and low cost, for combination therapy, such as accurate targeting, bioimaging, and enhanced therapeutic and biocatalytic effects. In contrast to larger nanoparticles, bio-inspired metal NCs allow rapid renal clearance and better pharmacokinetics in biological systems. Notably, advances in nanoscience, interfacial chemistry, and biotechnologies have further spurred researchers to explore bio-inspired metal NCs for therapeutic purposes. The current review presents a comprehensive and timely overview of various metal NCs for various therapeutic applications, with a special emphasis on the design rationale behind the use of biomolecules/cells as the main scaffolds. In the different hybrid platform, we summarize the current challenges and emerging perspectives, which are expected to offer in-depth insight into the rational design of bio-inspired metal NCs for personalized treatment and clinical translation.

Gold Nanoclusters as Nanoantibiotic Auranofin Analogues

“…[28] While Au I complexes such as auranofin have been extensively researched, recent investigations have shown that gold nanomaterials, including gold nanoclusters (AuNCs), also have potential as antibacterial agents. [29,30] AuNCs are a class of gold nanoparticles that contain up to several hundred Au atoms and are 2 nm or less in diameter. [31,32] Similar to other nanomaterials that possess high specific surface areas, AuNCs can provide multivalent presentation of attached ligands within close proximity, often leading to a marked increase in binding affinity by several orders of magnitude.…”

The Multifarious Applications of Copper Nanoclusters in Biosensing and Bioimaging and Their Translational Role in Early Disease Detection

“…In most cases, the emitted light has a longer wavelength, and therefore lower energy, than the absorbed radiation. However, when the absorbed electromagnetic radiation is intense, it is possible for one molecule to absorb two photons; this two-photon absorption may lead to the emission of radiation with a shorter wavelength than the absorbed radiation [ 22 ]. Fluorescence imaging has evolved into a novel and promising tool for in vivo imaging, as it can achieve real-time sub-cellular resolution imaging, and hence be widely used in the field of biological and medical detection and treatment.…”

Recent Advances in Nucleic Acid Modulation for Functional Nanozyme

“…To the best of our knowledge, this article is the first to analyze and summarize such phenomena. This article pays great attention to the interface modulation of nucleic acids to nanozymes: modification, binding, immobilization, and the resulting major changes in interface components in the structure of nanozymes, which lead to an increase or decrease in enzyme catalytic activity [46][47][48][49][50]. The controllability and accuracy of modulation technology is an important force for promoting the progress of social civilization.…”