Peptide- and protein-nanoparticle conjugates have emerged as powerful tools for biomedical applications, enabling the treatment, diagnosis, and prevention of disease. In this review, we focus on the key roles played by peptides and proteins in improving, controlling, and defining the performance of nanotechnologies. Within this framework, we provide a comprehensive overview of the key sequences and structures utilised to provide biological and physical stability to nano-constructs, direct particles to their target and influence their cellular and tissue distribution, induce and control biological responses, and form polypeptide self-assembled nanoparticles. In doing so, we highlight the great advances made by the field, as well as the challenges still faced in achieving the clinical translation of peptide- and protein-functionalised nano-drug delivery vehicles, imaging species, and active therapeutics.

For many normal and aberrant cell behaviours, it is important to understand the origin of cellular heterogeneity. Although powerful methods for studying cell heterogeneity have emerged, they are more suitable for common rather than rare cells. Exploring the heterogeneity of rare single cells is challenging because these rare cells must be first pre-concentrated and undergo analysis prior to classification and expansion. Here, a versatile capture & release platform consisting of an antibody-modified and electrochemically cleavable semiconducting silicon surface for release of individual cells of interest is presented. The captured cells can be interrogated microscopically and tested for drug responsiveness prior to release and recovery. The capture & release strategy was applied to identify rare tumour cells from whole blood, monitor the uptake of, and response to, doxorubicin and subsequently select cells for single-cell gene expression based on their response to the doxorubicin.

Porous silicon photonics is the ideal platform for high sensitivity, high selectivity monitoring of biological molecules in a complex fluidic environment. The potential of this technology was identified almost 15 years ago, however, it has taken considerable advances in porous silicon surface chemistry, photonics, and micro-fabrication to create truly effective devices that can provide new insights into the behaviour of biological systems. In this review we provide a critical assessment of the development of porous silicon optical biosensors from the early demonstrations of affinity based sensing to the current trends in monitoring single cell activity and perspectives in the use of photonic microparticles for biomedical applications.

We demonstrate that silicon (Si) nanoparticles with scattering properties exhibiting strong dielectric resonances can be successfully manipulated using optical tweezers. The large dielectric constant of Si has a distinct advantage over conventional colloidal nanoparticles in that it leads to enhanced trapping forces without the heating associated with metallic nanoparticles. Further, the spectral features of the trapped nanoparticles provide a unique marker for probing size, shape, orientation and local dielectric environment. We exploit these properties to investigate the trapping dynamics of Si nanoparticles with different dimensions ranging from 50 to 200 nm and aspect ratios between 0.4 and 2. The unique combination of spectral and trapping properties make Si nanoparticles an ideal system for delivering directed nanoscale sensing in a range of potential applications.

The incorporation of a versatile and tuneable polymer–peptide network into the pores of porous silicon photonic crystals improves the selectivity of porous silicon optical biosensors to detect certain types of matrix metalloproteinase enzymes.