Recent progress in atomically precise metal nanoclusters: From bio-related properties to biological applications

Lizhong He (Co-first Author), Tingting Dong (Co-first Author), De-en Jiang*, Qichun Zhang*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Journal Publications and Reviews › RGC 21 - Publication in refereed journal › peer-review

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Abstract

Atomically precise noble metal nanoclusters (e.g. gold and silver nanoclusters), consisting of a few to a hundred atoms, have emerged as promising materials in the field of nanoscience and life science. They have attracted significant interest owing to their discrete energy levels, intriguing molecular-like behaviors, and unique bio-related properties such as controllable optical absorption, adjustable photoluminescence, circularly polarized luminescence and clusterzyme activity, which can be tailored through tuning the size, composition distribution and types of the capping agents. These valuable bio-related properties of noble metal nanoclusters with defined structures have ensured them to become an emerging and promising class of artificial theranostic agents in biological applications, including bioimaging, modern antibacterial agents, drug delivery systems and cancer therapy. This review comprehensively and systematically summarizes recent advances in the bio-application of gold and silver nanoclusters for fluorescent bioimaging, antibacterial agents, drug delivery and cancer therapy, highlighting the key factors or efficient strategies to tailor these bio-related properties. Moreover, the current challenges and the future development directions of noble metal nanoclusters are also discussed. © 2025 The Authors.
Original languageEnglish
Article number216633
JournalCoordination Chemistry Reviews
Volume535
Online published29 Mar 2025
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 15 Jul 2025

Funding

Q.Z. acknowledges the financial support from the City University of Hong Kong ( 9380117 and 7020089 ) and Hong Kong Branch of National Precious Metals Material Engineering Research Center (NPMM), Hong Kong, P. R. China. Q. Z. thanks the funding support from the Innovation and Technology Fund ( ITF, ITS/322/22 ), the National Natural Science Foundation of China ( NSFC, 22475183 ) and Shenzhen Science and Technology Program (JCYJ20240813153135046). L. H. thanks the funding support from the National Natural Science Foundation of China ( 22201225 ), China Postdoctoral Science Foundation ( 2023M733539 ), XiangJiang Scholars Scheme Program ( XJ2023006 ), Postdoctoral Researcher Scientific Activity Funding Project in Anhui Province ( 2023A660 ), Scientific Program Funded by the Shaanxi Provincial Education Department ( 23JK0456 ), Scientific and Technological Plan Project of Xi'an Beilin District (GX2310) and Scientific and Technological Plan Project of Xi'an Science and Technology Bureau (24GXFW0017).

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

  1. SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being
    SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being

Research Keywords

  • Antibacterial agents
  • Cancer therapy
  • Drug delivery
  • Fluorescent bioimaging
  • Noble metal nanoclusters

Publisher's Copyright Statement

  • This full text is made available under CC-BY 4.0. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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