The metal-catalyzed reactions have given various chemical modifications that could not be achieved through basic organic chemistry reactions. In the past decade, many metal-mediated catalytic systems have carried out different transformations in cellulo, such as decaging of fluorophores, drug release, and protein conjugation. However, translating abiotic metal catalysts for organic synthesis in vivo, including bacteria, zebrafish, or mice, could encounter numerous challenges regarding their biocompatibility, stability, and reactivity in the complicated biological environment. In this review, we categorize and summarize the relevant advances in this research field by emphasizing the system’s framework, the design of each transformation, and the mode of action. These studies disclose the massive potential of the emerging field and the significant applications in synthetic biology.

金属催化的反应已经进行了各种化学修饰，这是基本有机化学反应无法实现的。在过去的十年中，许多金属介导的催化系统在纤维素中进行了不同的转化，例如荧光团的去老化、药物释放和蛋白质缀合。然而，在体内转化用于有机合成的非生物金属催化剂包括细菌、斑马鱼或小鼠在内，在复杂的生物环境中，它们的生物相容性、稳定性和反应性可能会遇到许多挑战。在这篇综述中，我们通过强调系统的框架、每个转换的设计和作用方式来分类和总结该研究领域的相关进展。这些研究揭示了新兴领域的巨大潜力以及在合成生物学中的重要应用。