Liquid Metal Molecular Medicine

Biomolecules are central to disease onset, diagnosis, and treatment, yet materials capable of actively interacting with biological targets remain limited. Gallium-based liquid metals and their derivative composites possess a metallic liquid core, a dynamic oxide interface, and releasable metal species, which support diverse molecular interactions and regulatory processes. However, current advances remain scattered across different biomedical applications and are often discussed mainly from a materials perspective. Here, we propose liquid metal molecular medicine (LMMM) as an interdisciplinary framework that connects liquid-metal active components and molecular mechanisms with biomedical functions. This Review outlines the mechanistic basis of LMMM and organizes current research into eight subfields: molecular diagnostics, targeted drug delivery, nucleic-acid regulation and prospects, antibiosis, immunology, enzymology, cell repair, and regenerative medicine. By interpreting these applications from the perspective of molecular interactions, LMMM complements existing application-centered reviews and highlights the distinctive role of liquid metals as active molecular interfaces. Key scientific and translational challenges are also discussed.

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Publication Details

Journal
Angewandte Chemie
Published
2026-09-04
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1002/ange.8312975
Primary Topic
Advanced Sensor and Energy Harvesting Materials
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00

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article

Liquid Metal Molecular Medicine

Liangfei Duan, Jing Liu, Peimeng Wu
Angewandte Chemie
Advanced Sensor and Energy Harvesting Materials
article

Liquid Metal Molecular Medicine

Liangfei Duan, Jing Liu, Peimeng Wu
article en

Abstract

Biomolecules are central to disease onset, diagnosis, and treatment, yet materials capable of actively interacting with biological targets remain limited. Gallium-based liquid metals and their derivative composites possess a metallic liquid core, a dynamic oxide interface, and releasable metal species, which support diverse molecular interactions and regulatory processes. However, current advances remain scattered across different biomedical applications and are often discussed mainly from a materials perspective. Here, we propose liquid metal molecular medicine (LMMM) as an interdisciplinary framework that connects liquid-metal active components and molecular mechanisms with biomedical functions. This Review outlines the mechanistic basis of LMMM and organizes current research into eight subfields: molecular diagnostics, targeted drug delivery, nucleic-acid regulation and prospects, antibiosis, immunology, enzymology, cell repair, and regenerative medicine. By interpreting these applications from the perspective of molecular interactions, LMMM complements existing application-centered reviews and highlights the distinctive role of liquid metals as active molecular interfaces. Key scientific and translational challenges are also discussed.

Angewandte Chemie
Yunnan Normal University (CN), Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry (CN), University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (CN)
National Natural Science Foundation of China
Openalex Percentile: Top 20%
Advanced Sensor and Energy Harvesting Materials
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