| Abstract Scope |
Molybdenum trioxide (MoO₃) nanoparticles have recently emerged as promising multifunctional nanomaterials owing to their tunable crystal structures, variable oxidation states, oxygen-defect chemistry, and favorable surface reactivity. Unlike many conventional metal oxides, the biomedical performance of MoO₃ nanoparticles is highly dependent on structure–activity relationships involving crystal phase, morphology, particle size, surface defects, and physicochemical modifications. These structural characteristics regulate reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, photothermal conversion, drug-loading capacity, antibacterial activity, and cellular responses. Recent advances in defect engineering and surface functionalization have significantly expanded the biomedical potential of MoO₃ nanomaterials for antimicrobial therapy, cancer treatment, biosensing, and drug delivery. This mini-review critically discusses recent progress in understanding how structural parameters determine biological performance, highlights current limitations, and identifies future research directions for the rational design of clinically relevant MoO₃ nanoplatforms. |