Recent advancements of nanostructured surface-specific supramolecular assemblies and their application in biomedical engineering

Abstract

Nanostructured surface-specific supramolecular chemistry refers to the process of functional assembly on nanomaterial surfaces through non-covalent specific interactions, as well as the recognitions or interactions between the modified nanomaterials and target molecules or active sites. This process exemplifies the principles of green chemistry by reducing the use of hazardous chemicals, minimizing waste, and promoting energy-efficient synthesis in the construction of functional nanomaterials for biomedical applications. Over the past five years, nanostructured surface-specific supramolecular chemistry has made significant progress in the field of biomedical engineering, particularly in drug delivery, diagnostics, biosensing, and therapy. Through host–guest assembly, nucleic acid recognition, and interactions between proteins/peptides and target molecules, these systems achieve precise control over the functional performance of nanomaterials. The flexibility of supramolecular techniques allows for a high degree of customization in various biomedical applications, such as cancer treatment, immunotherapy, and real-time diagnostics. This review focuses on recent advancements in the design and applications of these systems, summarizing the green chemistry principles they embody during their construction and application, and identifying future research directions and challenges faced by this field.