# Atomically Precise Clusterzymes: A Programmable Optoelectronic Platform for Neuroscience

## TL;DR

This paper reviews atomically precise metal clusters called clusterzymes and their potential in neuroscience for applications like bioimaging and brain-computer interfaces.

## Contribution

The paper introduces clusterzymes as a programmable optoelectronic platform with tailored biocatalytic and optical properties for biomedical applications.

## Key findings

- Clusterzymes overcome stability and biosafety issues of traditional enzymes and nanomaterials.
- Infrared emissive metal clusters enable 3D visualization in deep tissue and pathological monitoring.
- Semiconductor gold clusters improve charge transfer for sensitive neuron recording in brain-computer interfaces.

## Abstract

Atomically precise metal clusters, characterized by their well‐defined structures, have emerged as a versatile platform for energy, catalysis, and biomedicine. Building upon this foundation, the biocatalytic clusterzymes, a class of artificial enzymes with atomic‐level programmable activity and renal‐excreted properties, have successfully overcome the stability limitations of natural enzymes and biosafety concerns of conventional nanomaterials. This review systematically examines the synthesis, engineering principles, and applications of this programmable platform. First an in‐depth analysis of the strategies is provided for programming biocatalytic or enzyme‐like activity of metal clusters via atomic and ligand engineering. Meanwhile, infrared emissive metal clusters with tunable electronic structure and optical properties at the atomic level allow to achieve the pathological progression and clinical 3D visualization in deep tissue. Furthermore, semiconductor gold clusters with rich electron carriers can enhance the interface charge transfer between the metal electrode and surface molecular clusters, achieving highly sensitive neuron recording for an efficient brain computer interface. The clusters demonstrate great potential in neuroscience, including neuroinflammation, bioimaging, and neuromodulation. Finally, future challenges are outlined for the rational design and translational development of this programmable platform, poised to address complex challenges in biomedicine.

Atomically precise clusterzymes, engineered via atomic and ligand design, serve as programmable platforms for neuroscience applications. They demonstrate tailored biocatalysis for neuroinflammation, tunable optical properties for deep‐tissue bioimaging and 3D visualization, and enhanced charge transfer for brain–computer interfaces. This review systematically examines their design principles and therapeutic potential in brain disorders.