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Review
. 2025 Dec;15(12):416.
doi: 10.1007/s13205-025-04540-x. Epub 2025 Nov 20.

Perspectives and state-of-the-art use of metal-derived, porous nanomaterials and metallo-drugs for biomedical applications

Paulo Sérgio Taube  1 , Donald Fernandes  2 , Arthur Abinader Vasconcelos  1 , José Arnaldo Santana Costa  1 , Márcio Peres de Araujo  3 , Alan Kelbis Oliveira Lima  4 , Nida Wahab  3 , Elisa Kawana Leal Dos Santos  3 , Marcielli Indiara de Oliveira  5 , Juliana Paula da Silva  5 , Karla Furtado Andriani  6 , Tainá Pereira da Silva Oliveira  7 , Marina Carvalho Sampaio  7 , Hugo de Campos Braga  8 , Amanda Cruz Serra de Araújo  8 , Kashif Gul  9
Affiliations
Review

Perspectives and state-of-the-art use of metal-derived, porous nanomaterials and metallo-drugs for biomedical applications

Paulo Sérgio Taube et al. 3 Biotech. 2025 Dec.

Abstract

Due to a combination of genetic, environmental, and behavioral factors, the number of infectious and non-infectious diseases affecting humans has been rising. Many illnesses are in the forefront of research and development such as neoplasms of different forms, chronic conditions related to inflammation and lifestyle (e.g., cancer, diabetes mellitus, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases) and infectious diseases that are difficult to treat (e.g., due to drug resistance). Due to current challenges in diagnosis and treatment of diseases and health conditions, the field of nanotechnology has witnessed numerous advancements. In particular, metal-based, porous nanomaterials and metallo-drugs have gained attention due to their ability to be used for various diagnostic and therapeutic applications. These systems exhibit excellent physicochemical properties, with amenable functionalization and varying optical, scattering and electronic properties, enabling for both imaging and therapy of diseases (i.e., theranostics), involving techniques such as photoacoustic imaging, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT), photothermal therapy (PTT), photodynamic therapy (PDT) and radiotherapy. This review discusses the important aspects of metal nanoparticles, porous-based materials and metallo-drugs for biomedical applications, exploring their physical and chemical characteristics, cellular/molecular processes and biopotencies that make them effective in treating a variety of illnesses or diseases.

Keywords: Biomedical applications; Metal nanoparticles; Metallo-drugs; Porous-based materials.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interestThere are no conflicts of interest relating to this article.

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