Polyoxometalates and Metal Oxide Clusters in the Landscape of Chemical Biology

The field of metal oxide cluster science is rapidly evolving, offering innovative solutions and insights at the intersection of chemistry, biology, and materials science. Metal oxide clusters, including polyoxometalates and related species, are increasingly being developed for applications in catalysis, biological, and medicinal systems. Their unique chemical structures allow them to function as models for metalloenzymes, enzyme mimics ("nanozymes"), active components in bioinspired catalytic systems, and building blocks for next-generation therapeutic agents and diagnostic tools. These clusters also drive progress in developing adaptive and multifunctional materials, with applications ranging from targeted drug delivery to sensing platforms.This Research Topic aims to bring together pioneering research and novel insights into the impact of metal oxide clusters in the broad landscape of chemical biology. We welcome contributions from participants in the conference Frontiers in Metal Oxide Cluster Science (FMOCS 2025), as well as the wider scientific community focused on, but not limited to, the following themes:• Bioinorganic roles of metal oxide clusters: Modeling metalloenzyme active sites, investigating metal homeostasis, and elucidating mechanisms of biological activity.• Catalytic and biomimetic functions: Enzyme-like catalysis and bioinspired transformations enabled by metal oxide clusters.• Clusters as therapeutic agents and diagnostics: Design, synthesis, and application of clusters in drug development, imaging, and biosensing.• Exploring fundamental properties of polyoxometalates and clusters when applied to analytical, biological, and biomedical systems. • Innovative materials: Metal oxide clusters as building blocks for adaptive, multifunctional, and bioactive materials.• Advanced analytical, spectroscopic, and theoretical approaches: Innovations in chemical biology for characterizing clusters, probing their interactions with biomolecules, or modeling their structure and function.• Translational and biomedical applications: Cluster-based systems in disease diagnosis, treatment, and personalized medicine, including challenges and opportunities in clinical translation.We welcome original research articles, brief research reports, reviews, mini-reviews, perspectives, and methodological papers that advance our understanding of polyoxometalates and metal oxide clusters in chemical biology. By fostering cross-disciplinary collaboration, this Research Topic aims to illuminate how polyoxometalates and metal oxide clusters are shaping the future of biology, medicine, and material science. Topic editors: Nadiia I. Gumerova, Alina Joanna Bieńko, Soumyajit Roy, Debbie C. Crans Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/72012/polyoxometalates-and-metal-oxide-clusters-in-the-landscape-of-chemical-biology