Nano-bio-interface: Unleashing the Potential of Noble Nanometals

Engineered noble metal nanomaterials (NMN) possess adjustable optical, electrical, and biocompatible properties that make them excellent tools for probing the nano-bio-interface. Understanding their interactions with biomolecules, cells, and tissues at the nano-bio-interface is crucial in designing these nanomaterials for biomedical applications. This review summarizes the structure, properties, synthesis, and passivation methods of noble metal nanoparticles, as well as the construction strategy and detection technology of the nano-bio-interface to provide important information about their uptake, distribution, metabolism, and degradation in vivo and in vitro. The related action mechanisms include the kinetic and thermodynamic processes of the nano-bio-interface, the driving forces for its formation, and the chemical reactions at the nano-bio-interface. By exploring the action mechanism of the nano-bio-interface, the antibacterial properties and cytotoxicity of NMN could be better understood, and open up more extensive biological applications. Finally, the future trends of NMNs in the biological field and the challenges encountered in realizing these technologies are discussed.