bioinorganica

Bioinorganica, often called bioinorganic chemistry, is the study of the roles of metal ions and inorganic species in living systems. It lies at the interface of inorganic chemistry and biochemistry and seeks to understand how metals contribute to structure, catalysis, signaling, electron transfer, and storage in biological contexts.

The field examines metalloproteins and metalloenzymes, metal cofactors, and the chemistry of metal centers in biology. Essential metals include iron, copper, manganese, zinc, nickel, cobalt, molybdenum, and tungsten, among others. Metal cofactors such as heme, iron-sulfur clusters, and zinc-binding motifs enable a wide range of functions, from oxygen transport and electron transfer to small-molecule activation and catalysis. Examples of systems studied include hemoglobin and myoglobin, cytochromes, nitrogenase, photosystem II, superoxide dismutase, and various zinc- and molybdenum-dependent enzymes.

Research in bioinorganica covers metal uptake, transport, storage, regulation, and detoxification, as well as the mechanisms by which metal sites achieve reactivity and selectivity. Methodologies commonly employed include spectroscopy (UV–visible, EPR, Mössbauer), X-ray crystallography and absorption techniques, electrochemistry, kinetic studies, and computational modeling.

Applications span medicine, imaging, and catalysis. Metal-based drugs and diagnostics, such as platinum anticancer agents and gadolinium-based MRI contrast agents, illustrate therapeutic and diagnostic potential. The field also informs the design of bioinspired catalysts and materials, and contributes to understanding health and environmental implications of metal ions, including homeostasis, deficiency, and toxicity.