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Updated: Feb 12, 2026
26:41
Perspectives on Neuroscience
Published on: July 31, 2007
5.4K
Atomically Precise Clusterzymes: A Programmable Optoelectronic Platform for Neuroscience.
Si Sun1,2, Di Liu1, Sufei Zhou1
1State Key Laboratory of Advanced Medical Materials and Devices, Academy of Medical Engineering and Translational Medicine, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China.
Advanced Science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany)
|February 11, 2026
Summary
Atomically precise metal clusters, termed clusterzymes, offer programmable biocatalytic functions and safe renal excretion, overcoming limitations of natural enzymes and nanomaterials. These versatile clusters show promise in deep-tissue imaging and brain-computer interfaces.
Area of Science:
- Nanomaterials Science
- Biomedical Engineering
- Catalysis
Background:
- Atomically precise metal clusters offer well-defined structures for diverse applications.
- Clusterzymes, artificial enzymes from metal clusters, provide programmable activity and renal excretion.
- They address stability issues of natural enzymes and safety concerns of nanomaterials.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review the synthesis, engineering, and applications of clusterzyme platforms.
- To explore atomic and ligand engineering strategies for programming biocatalytic activity.
- To highlight applications in deep-tissue imaging and brain-computer interfaces.
Main Methods:
- Review of synthesis strategies for metal clusters.
- Analysis of atomic and ligand engineering for activity programming.
- Examination of infrared emissive and semiconductor cluster applications.
Main Results:
- Strategies for programming biocatalytic activity via atomic/ligand engineering are detailed.
- Infrared emissive clusters enable deep-tissue 3D visualization.
- Semiconductor gold clusters enhance neuron recording for brain-computer interfaces.
Conclusions:
- Clusterzymes represent a programmable platform with significant potential in neuroscience and biomedicine.
- Further research is needed for rational design and translational development.
- These advancements promise solutions for complex biomedical challenges.
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