Bioorthogonal catalysis using transition-metal
catalysts (TMCs)
provides a toolkit for the in situ generation of
imaging and therapeutic agents in biological environments. Integrating
TMCs with nanomaterials mimics key properties of natural enzymes,
providing bioorthogonal “nanozymes”. ZnS nanoparticles
provide a platform for bioorthogonal nanozymes using ruthenium catalysts
embedded in self-assembled monolayers on the particle surface. These
nanozymes uncage allylated profluorophores and prodrugs. The ZnS core
combines the non-toxicity and degradability with the enhancement of
Ru catalysis through the release of thiolate surface ligands that
accelerate the rate-determining step in the Ru-mediated deallylation
catalytic cycle. The maximum rate of reaction (V
max) increases ∼2.5-fold as compared to the non-degradable
gold nanoparticle analogue. The therapeutic potential of these bioorthogonal
nanozymes is demonstrated by activating a chemotherapy drug from an
inactive prodrug with efficient killing of cancer cells.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.