Photoactive Nanomaterials and Programmable Biointerfaces for Precision Diagnostics and Theranostics

Light- and stimulus-responsive nanomaterials—plasmonic nanoparticles, semiconductor and 2D photoactive materials, quantum dots, DNA nanostructures, and photocatalytic nanostructures—can absorb light, separate charge, generate heat, produce reactive oxygen species, and amplify weak molecular signals. When these nanomaterials are coupled with biological recognition elements (nucleic acids, antibodies, enzymes, CRISPR effectors, cells, or organoids), they form programmable biointerfaces that convert molecular recognition into measurable optical, electrochemical, photoelectrochemical, or thermal outputs, and that enable spatiotemporally controlled therapy. This convergence is reshaping precision health: amplification-free and single-base–resolved nucleic acid detection, multiplexed pathogen and biomarker analysis, activatable in vivo imaging, and photo-regulated antibacterial, anticancer, regenerative, and immunomodulatory treatment.Despite rapid progress, many platforms still struggle with selectivity in complex matrices, long-term stability, biocompatibility and nanotoxicology, reproducible nanoscale fabrication, and translation into deployable diagnostic or therapeutic devices. This Research Topic aims to gather advances in photoactive nanomaterial design, nanoscale biointerface engineering, and light-regulated biofunctionality that move beyond passive carriers toward active, controllable nanosystems for diagnostics and theranostics. We particularly welcome studies that link rational nanomaterial design and characterization to mechanistic understanding, biological validation, and clear translational or point-of-care potential. Submissions should keep nanoscale design, fabrication, characterization, or particle-dependent effects (size, morphology, synthesis conditions, surface chemistry) central to their findings.We welcome Original Research, Reviews, Mini Reviews, Perspectives, and Methods articles. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:o Plasmonic, photoelectrochemical, photonic, and electrochemical nanobiosensors for ultrasensitive molecular diagnosticso CRISPR-, enzyme-, antibody-, or nucleic acid-integrated nanomaterial systems for amplification-free and multiplexed detectiono Photoactive 2D materials, quantum dots, DNA nanostructures, and plasmonic nanoparticles for biosensing and bioimagingo Activatable molecular probes and smart nanoprobes for in vivo and point-of-care imagingo Light-responsive “smart” nanoparticles for photothermal, photodynamic, ROS-mediated, regenerative, or immunomodulatory therapyo Functional nanostructured surfaces and biointerfaces, including photocatalytic antibacterial and anti-biofilm interfaceso Nanoscale theranostic platforms integrating diagnosis and therapy with controllable, stimulus-responsive functiono Organ-on-chip, microfluidic, wearable, implantable, and point-of-care nanodeviceso Nanotoxicology, biosafety, stability, and translational/regulatory aspects of photoactive nanodeviceso Advanced characterization and imaging tools for nanomaterial–biointerface interactions, including AI-assisted analysis tied to nanoscale phenomena Topic editors: Zhi Chen, Han Zhang, Biyuan Liu, Sorin Melinte Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/85205/photoactive-nanomaterials-and-programmable-biointerfaces-for-precision-diagnostics-and-theranostics