Copper Ion Coordination with Organic Linkers for Biotechnology: Materials Science and Biological Applications
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Abstract
Copper-based coordination polymers and metal-organic frameworks represent a rapidly expanding frontier in biotechnology applications, offering unique advantages through their tunable structural properties and inherent bioactivity. This comprehensive review examines the current state of copper ion coordination with organic linkers, focusing on their materials science foundations and diverse biological applications. The investigation encompasses the fundamental coordination chemistry of copper centers, structural design principles for biomedical applications, and emerging therapeutic strategies including anticancer treatments and wound healing applications. Recent advances in copper-mediated cuproptosis mechanisms have opened new avenues for targeted cancer therapy, while the antimicrobial properties of copper-based frameworks show promise for infection control and tissue regeneration. The structural versatility of these materials, achieved through systematic ligand modification and secondary building unit engineering, enables precise control over biological activity and biocompatibility. Current challenges include optimizing stability in biological media, controlling copper ion release kinetics, and minimizing cytotoxicity while maintaining therapeutic efficacy. This review synthesizes recent developments in copper coordination chemistry for biotechnology, highlighting breakthrough applications in drug delivery, biosensing, and regenerative medicine. The analysis reveals significant potential for copper-based coordination materials in next-generation biomedical technologies, with particular emphasis on their role in personalized medicine and targeted therapeutic interventions.
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