Stimulus-responsive nanomaterials containing logic gates for biomedical applications

The rapid advance of nanotechnology has presented tremendous opportunities for various biomedical applications. In particular, integration of biomolecular logic gates with nanostructures has opened new avenues in the fields of disease diagnosis and therapy that involve handling complex factors and require precise control. Over time, stimulus-responsive nanomaterials containing molecular logic gates have advanced from simple single input-triggered YES/NO responses into sophisticated Boolean logic computations. In these smart nanomaterials, the Boolean logic operations can only be activated by two or more defined inputs via biorecognition, catalysis, or biochemical reactions, contributing to improved specificity and minimized off-target or side effects. In this review, we provide an up-to-date overview of the development of stimulus-responsive nano materials containing logic gates and their applications in cell profiling, sensing, imaging, and drug delivery. Future perspectives and challenges in this emerging field are also discussed.

Automated summary

The rapid advancement of nanotechnology has opened up significant opportunities in various biomedical applications, particularly in disease diagnosis and therapy where biomolecular logic gates integrated with nanostructures play a crucial role. Stimulus-responsive nanomaterials containing molecular logic gates have evolved from simple to sophisticated Boolean logic computations, offering improved specificity and reduced off-target effects. The review provides an overview of the development and applications of these smart nanomaterials in cell profiling, sensing, imaging, and drug delivery, while also discussing future perspectives and challenges in this emerging field.