Advancements in pharmaceutical research on traditional Chinese medicine-metal complexes

Minyu Han; Jinning Mao; Guodong Liu; Peng Xue

doi:10.1016/j.jpha.2026.101548

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Minyu Han, Jinning Mao, Guodong Liu, Peng Xue. Advancements in pharmaceutical research on traditional Chinese medicine-metal complexes[J]. Journal of Pharmaceutical Analysis. doi: 10.1016/j.jpha.2026.101548

Citation:

Minyu Han, Jinning Mao, Guodong Liu, Peng Xue. Advancements in pharmaceutical research on traditional Chinese medicine-metal complexes[J]. Journal of Pharmaceutical Analysis. doi: 10.1016/j.jpha.2026.101548

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Advancements in pharmaceutical research on traditional Chinese medicine-metal complexes

doi: 10.1016/j.jpha.2026.101548

Minyu Han^a,
Jinning Mao^b,
Guodong Liu^{c
,
,},
Peng Xue^{a,d
,
,}

a. School of Materials and Energy, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China;
b. Health Medical Center, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, China;
c. Department of Neurosurgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, China;
d. Yibin Academy of Southwest University, Yibin, Sichuan, 644005, China

Funds:

Key Research and Development Project of Sichuan Provincial Science and Technology Plan, China (Grant No.: 2024YFFK0249), Open Research Project from Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Tumor Evolution and Intelligent Diagnosis and Treatment, China (Grant No.: KFKT202405), Science and Technology Innovation Key R&

D Program of Chongqing (Grant No.: CSTB2025TIAD-STX0010), Demonstration Project for the Application of Ultrasonic Cutting and Hemostatic Knife System (Grant No.: CQEIC2024MDAD-035), Joint Training Base for Graduate Students of Chongqing (Grant No.: lpjd202409).

Received Date: Apr. 20, 2025
Accepted Date: Jan. 03, 2026
Rev Recd Date: Dec. 31, 2025
Available Online: Jan. 06, 2026

Abstract

Abstract

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has gained significant recognition as an adjuvant treatment modality for cancer, infections, and inflammatory diseases, owing to its outstanding antitumor, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory properties. With the advancement of TCM-based coordination chemistry, TCM-metal complexes have attracted growing interest in recent years. These novel compounds, formed by integrating traditional TCM components with metal ions, not only enhance the therapeutic efficacy of TCM but also exhibit unique biological activities. This review highlights the design strategies and pharmaceutical applications of various categories of TCM-metal complexes, including those based on polyphenols, alkaloids, and other drug-metal conjugates. By applying modern nanobiotechnology alongside TCM principles, TCM-metal complexes demonstrate considerable potential for the diagnosis and treatment of major diseases. Finally, this review discusses the challenges and future prospects of TCM-metal complexes in clinical applications, providing valuable insights to guide further research and development in this emerging field.
- Traditional Chinese medicine,
- Nanobiotechnology,
- Coordination chemistry,
- Pharmaceutical applications

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References(149)

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