The advent of molecular nanocarbon biology

Molecular nanocarbons, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, cycloparaphenylenes, and carbon nanobelts, have emerged as structurally well-defined carbon-rich molecules with unique photophysical, electronic, and topological properties. Recent advances in synthetic organic chemistry have greatly expanded the accessible structural diversity of molecular nanocarbons, accelerating their exploration not only in materials science but also in the biological sciences. In this perspective, we summarize recent progress in the biological applications of molecular nanocarbons. These studies are beginning to establish molecular nanocarbons as a versatile platform at the interface of synthetic chemistry and biology. Continued advances in molecular design, functionalization, and biological evaluation should further expand their roles in imaging, delivery, therapeutics, and biocatalysis, thereby opening new directions for both molecular nanocarbon science and chemical biology. Together, these advances mark the emergence of molecular nanocarbon biology, a new research direction in which precisely synthesized carbon frameworks are designed to interact with living systems in controlled and functional ways.