Bioinorganic chemistry: where from and where to?

Abstract

Bioinorganic chemistry is a multidisciplinary field that bridges the apparent divide between inorganic chemistry and biology. The very name "bioinorganic" is an intriguing oxymoron, as "inorganic" chemistry traditionally refers to the study of the inanimate world, while the "bio" prefix refers to living systems. Bioinorganic chemistry focuses on metallic systems within biological environments, with the dual aims of better understanding these natural systems and leveraging the solutions developed through evolution to design new industrial or therapeutic applications. As a close cousin of the field of metallomics, bioinorganic chemistry shares the fundamental principles that underpin metallomics' systemic analyses of metal-containing biomolecules. In this article, we trace the historical development of bioinorganic chemistry, highlighting its recent advancements and outlining future research challenges in this dynamic interdisciplinary area.