Protein-protected metal nanoclusters as diagnostic and therapeutic platforms for biomedical applications

• DOI: 10.1016/j.mattod.2020.10.027
• Publication Date: 2021-02-21T13:30:28Z
• Authors: Iman Zare; Daniel M. Chevrier; Anna Cifuentes-Rius; Nasrin Moradi; Yunlei Xianyu; Subhadip Ghosh; Laura Trapiella-A...; Ye Tian; Alireza Shourangi...; Saptarshi Mukherjee; Kelong Fan; Michael R. Hamblin
• Keywords: [SDV] Life Sciences [q-bio]; [SPI]Engineering Sciences [physics]; [CHIM.MATE] Chemical Sciences/Material chemistry; [SPI] Engineering Sciences [physics]; [SDV]Life Sciences [q-bio]; [CHIM] Chemical Sciences; [CHIM]Chemical Sciences; 01 natural sciences; 0104 chemical sciences; 3. Good health

Abstract The use of protein templates for the controlled synthesis of inorganic nanostructures has gained considerable attention in multidisciplinary fields, including electronics, optics, energy, sensing, and biomedicine, owing to their biocompatibility and structural programmability. The possible synergistic combination of protein scaffolds (and other biomolecules/biopolymers) with metal nanoclusters (MNCs) has created a new class of highly photoluminescent nanoprobes and nanodevices. For the first time, we will discuss the different types of protein templates used for MNC preparation with an emphasis on their optoelectronic properties for application. In particular, applications of protein-coated MNCs for chemosensing or biosensing of cancer biomarkers, neurotransmitters, pathogenic microorganisms, biomolecules, pharmaceutical compounds, and immunoassays are discussed in detail herein. Fluorescence-based and multimodal molecular imaging, both in vitro and in vivo based on functional proteins are also covered. Furthermore, we discuss the burgeoning growth of protein-coated MNCs (e.g., gold (Au) and silver (Ag) NCs) to develop synergistic nanotherapeutics with potential biomedical applications in chemotherapy, radiotherapy, photodynamic therapy (PDT), photothermal therapy (PTT), and antibacterial activity, as well as MNC-containing nanocomposites for enhanced bioimaging and controlled drug release. Overall, the proposed review highlights the recent progress, technical challenges and new horizons in this field, and summarizes our understanding of how MNC properties interact with the biological function of protein scaffolds to develop synergistic nanotherapeutics towards clinical translation.