J. Mater. Sci. Technol. ›› 2023, Vol. 143: 153-168.DOI: 10.1016/j.jmst.2022.08.053

• Research Article • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Recent advances for liquid metals: Synthesis, modification and bio-applications

Zhenhu Guoa,b, Xiaohan Gaoc,d, Jingsong Lua,b, Wanling Xua,b, Jielin Yea,b, Ying Lia,b, Wensheng Xiee,**, Lingyun Zhaoa,b,*   

  1. aKey Laboratory of Advanced Materials, Ministry of Education of China, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
    bState Key Laboratory of New Ceramics and Fine Processing, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
    cSchool of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
    dDepartment of Neurosurgery, Yuquan Hospital, School of Clinical Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
    eThe Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), Department of Chemistry, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
  • Received:2022-06-10 Revised:2022-06-10 Accepted:2022-06-10 Online:2023-04-14
  • Contact: *Key Laboratory of Advanced Materials, Ministry of Ed-ucation of China, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China.
  • About author:Zhenhu Guo received his Master’s degree in China Uni- versity of Geosciences (Beijing) in 2018. He is now purs- ing his PhD under the supervision of Prof. Lingyun Zhao at the School of Materials Science and Engineering, Ts- inghua University and Hong Wu at Powder Metallurgy Re- search Institute, Central South University. Currently, his research is focused on the design and synthesis of mul- tifunctional nanomaterials for biomedical applications. Wensheng Xie graduated from Tsinghua University with BS in 2015 and ME in 2018. He is now studying for a PhD under the supervision of Prof. Wei at the Department of Chemistry, Tsinghua University. Currently, his research is focused on the design and preparation of smart-response nanoplatforms for cancer theranostics. Prof. Lingyun Zhao received her BS and MS Degrees in Chemical Engineering from Tianjin University in 1995 and 1997, respectively. She obtained her PhD degree in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering from the National University of Singapore (NUS) in 2003. Currently, she is working as an associate professor at the School of Ma- terials Science and Engineering (MSE) in Tsinghua Uni- versity. Her major research interests include cancer nan- otechnology, drug delivery, hybrid biomaterials for cancer multimodality treatment and theranostics, etc. She was enlisted by the Elsevier as the “Most Cited Chinese Re- searcher”(in the division of Biomedical Engineering) from 2014 to 2020.

Abstract: Considering the application requirements for modern biomedicine, research into novel biomaterials with unusual functions is highly desired. As an alternative, liquid metals (LMs), a nontraditional family of metal materials, have piqued the interest of biomedical researchers and made significant advances in biomedical areas, owing to their shape transformability, self-healing capability, excellent electrical, and thermal conductivities. In particular, many functionalized strategies for the preparation and modification of LMs or LMs-based composites to achieve extended biomedical applications have been investigated in recent years. These findings provided inspiring while constructive reference for the fabrication and engineering of novel LMs-based composites. Herein, in this topic review, we elaborate on the recent advances of LMs-based functional materials, with particular focuses on the synthesis, modification, and bio-applications, especially in antitumor therapy, antibacterial, contrast agent for imaging, bone repair, electronic skin sensor, and nerve connection agent. Further on, the current challenges and future prospects of LMs-based composites are carefully discussed.

Key words: Liquid metals, Synthesis, Composites, Antitumor therapy, Bio-application