Novel Bioconjugate Materials: Synthesis, Characterization and Medical Applications

Bioconjugation is a pillar of modern medicine, enabling the likes of targeted therapeutics and sensitive diagnostics by exploiting synergies between biomolecules and functional materials. Conjugation techniques have expanded to match an evolving materials discovery landscape, fueling a new wave of bioconjugates. Despite the breadth of conjugate literature, most reviews describe common and relatively simple substrates such as metal nanoparticles or polymers. This review therefore centers around novel materials including biological (e.g., viral capsids, live cells), hybrid (e.g., gold-decorated nanoparticles, covalent-organic frameworks), and synthetic (e.g., piezoelectrics, upconverting nanoparticles) substrates. Applications in cancer and viral therapy, tissue engineering, optogenetics, antimicrobials, diagnostics, advanced imaging, and related topics are explored, revealing trends in conjugation approach. This review also compares characterization techniques used to confirm and optimize conjugation before offering perspectives on the future of the field. By shedding light on the latest materials, applications, and analytical methods, we hope to empower researchers to harness bioconjugation for transformative medical innovations.