From Structural Chirality to Coined Biomedical Function: Recent Advances in Chiral Polyoxometalate-Based Materials
Chirality is a fundamental determinant of molecular recognition and biological function, yet its integration into inorganic clusters remains a formidable challenge. Polyoxometalates (POMs), characterized by atomic precision, structural tunability, and versatile redox properties, provide an exceptional platform for investigating chirality at the interface of inorganic chemistry and biomedicine. Over the past two decades, substantial progress has been made in constructing chiral POM-based materials through diverse strategies, including chirality induction by external environments, intrinsic structural chirality, spontaneous symmetry breaking, and the design of self-assembled supramolecular architectures. The distinctive combination of redox activity, stability, and chirality in these systems has unlocked new avenues for biomedical applications, spanning antibacterial and anticancer therapies to potential interventions in neurodegenerative disorders. This review comprehensively overviews recent advances in the synthesis and biomedical applications of chiral POM-based materials, while outlining key challenges and opportunities that will guide future research in this emerging field.