Metallo-biopolymers: Conjugation strategies and applications

Metallo-biopolymers are an exciting class of materials that integrate the optical, electronic, magnetic, and chemical properties of metal complexes with the specificity and highly ordered structures of biopolymers. Metal complexes can be incorporated into the biopolymers using a multitude of synthetic methodologies. Developments in the fields of synthetic organic/organometallic chemistry and biological chemistry have enabled new conjugation methods that can expand the diversity and scope of such integrated metallo-biopolymer assemblies. The conjugation of metal complexes and biopolymers leads to new classes of hybrid materials for applications spanning biomaterials, drug delivery, imaging, sensing, photodynamic therapy, catalysis, optoelectronics, and energy conversion. This review article summarizes the synthetic strategies that have been adopted for the conjugation between biopolymers and metal complexes, as well as some of the various applications of these metallo-biopolymers. © 2014