Gallium-Based Liquid Metal Particles for Therapeutics

Gallium (Ga) and Ga-based liquid metal (LM) alloys offer low toxicity, excellent electrical and thermal conductivities, and fluidity at or near room temperature. Ga-based LM particles (LMPs) synthesized from these LMs exhibit both fluidic and metallic properties and are suitable for versatile functionalization in therapeutics. Functionalized Ga-based LMPs can be actuated using physical or chemical stimuli for drug delivery, cancer treatment, bioimaging, and biosensing. However, many of the fundamentals of their unique characteristics for therapeutics remain underexplored. We present the most recent advances in Ga-based LMPs in therapeutics based on the underlying mechanisms of their design and implementation. We also highlight some future biotechnological opportunities for Ga-based LMPs based on their extraordinary advantages. Emergence of Ga-Based LMPs as an Efficient Therapeutic Platform LMs are metals and metal alloys (see Glossary) that have low melting points and thus are in the liquid form at near-room temperature [1]. Ga and mercury (Hg) and their alloys are the most researched LMs, and between these two, Ga has a much lower toxicity [2]. Ga-based LMPs (Box 1), especially eutectic gallium-indium (EGaIn) and gallium-indium-tin (Galinstan) par

Automated summary

Gallium-based LMPs offer low toxicity, excellent electrical and thermal conductivities, and fluidity at room temperature, making them suitable for a range of therapeutic applications. However, fundamental research on their unique characteristics for therapeutics remains underexplored, while recent advances in their design and implementation show promising potential for drug delivery, cancer treatment, bioimaging, and biosensing.