No abstract

Protein‐protected metal nanoclusters (MNCs), typically consisting of several to a hundred metal atoms with a protein outer layer used for protecting clusters from aggregation, are excellent fluorescent labels for biomedical applications due to their extraordinary photoluminescence, facile synthesis and good biocompatibility. Interestingly, many protein‐protected MNCs have also been reported to exhibit intrinsic enzyme‐like activities, namely peroxidase, oxidase and catalase activities, and are consequently used for biological analysis and environmental treatment. These findings have extended the horizon of protein‐protected MNCs' properties as well as their application in various fields. Furthermore, in the field of nanozymes, protein‐protected MNCs have emerged as an outstanding new addition. Due to their ultra‐small size (<2 nm), they usually have higher catalytic activity, more suitable size for in vivo application, better biocompatibility and photoluminescence in comparison with large size nanozymes. In this review, we will systematically introduce the significant advances in this field and critically discuss the challenges that lie ahead. Ultra‐small nanozymes based on protein‐protected MNCs are on the verge of attracting great interest across various disciplines and will stimulate research in the fields of nanotechnology and biology. This article is characterized under: Therapeutic Approaches and Drug Discovery > Emerging Technologies Biology‐Inspired Nanomaterials > Protein and Virus‐Based Structures

Recent advances in nanotechnology are expected to increase our current understanding of neuroscience.

Nature has inspired scientists to develop green and sustainable nanomaterials with biomimetic functions. Particularly, biomimetic metallic nanostructures (biometal NPs) with unique optical, catalytic, and electrical properties have received tremendous attention in many fields, ranging from healthcare and agriculture to energy and environmental sciences. Biometal NPs synthesized by various natural resources such as plant extracts, biomolecules, bacteria, and even viruses possess unique biomimetic functions including but not limited to precise biorecognition, selfassembly, antibacterial/antiviral, and enzymatic properties. In this report, we first review the bioinspired synthesis of industrially important metal nanoparticles, followed by the discussion on how the different biological sources affect the biomimetic functions of the as-synthesized biometal NPs. Next, we review the recent advancement and applications of these biometal NPs in the fields of biomedical engineering and catalysis, which include the development of metallic nanobiosensors, biomedical imaging probes, nanotherapeutics (e.g., antimicrobial and photodynamic/photothermal therapeutic agents), as well as the design of multifunctional nanozymes and artificial metalloenzymes for chemical and biopharmaceutical industries. Finally, we highlight some of the latest advancements in nanobiomimicry and their emerging applications in clean energy, electronic devices, and data storage, which shows the game-changing role of biomimetic metallic nanostructures for various technological applications in the near future.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is caused by a new member of the Coronaviridae family known as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). There are structural and non-structural proteins (NSPs) in the genome of this virus. S, M, H, and E proteins are structural proteins, and NSPs include accessory and replicase proteins. The structural and NSP components of SARS-CoV-2 play an important role in its infectivity, and some of them may be important in the pathogenesis of chronic diseases, including cancer, coagulation disorders, neurodegenerative disorders, and cardiovascular diseases. The SARS-CoV-2 proteins interact with targets such as angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor. In addition, SARS-CoV-2 can stimulate pathological intracellular signaling pathways by triggering transcription factor hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1), neuropilin-1 (NRP-1), CD147, and Eph receptors, which play important roles in the progression of neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's disease, epilepsy, and multiple sclerosis, and multiple cancers such as glioblastoma, lung malignancies, and leukemias. Several compounds such as polyphenols, doxazosin, baricitinib, and ruxolitinib could inhibit these interactions. It has been demonstrated that the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein has a stronger affinity for human ACE2 than the spike protein of SARS-CoV, leading the current study to hypothesize that the newly produced variant Omicron receptor-binding domain (RBD) binds to human ACE2 more strongly than the primary strain. SARS and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) viruses against structural and NSPs have become resistant to previous vaccines. Therefore, the review of recent studies and the performance of current vaccines and their effects on COVID-19 and related diseases has become a vital need to deal with the current conditions. This review examines the potential role of these SARS-CoV-2 proteins in the initiation of chronic diseases, and it is anticipated that these proteins could serve as components of an effective vaccine or treatment for COVID-19 and related diseases.