Molecular insights of nanozymes from design to catalytic mechanism

Abstract

Emerging as cost-effective potential alternatives to natural enzymes, nanozymes have attracted increasing interest in broad fields. To exploit the in-depth potential of nanozymes, rational structural engineering and explicit catalytic mechanisms at the molecular scale are required. Recently, impressive progress has been made in mimicking the characteristics of natural enzymes by constructing metal active sites, binding pockets, scaffolds, and delicate allosteric regulation. Ingenious in-depth studies have been conducted with advances in structural characterization and theoretical calculations, unveiling the “black box” of nanozyme-catalytic mechanisms. This review introduces the state-of-art synthesis strategies by learning from the natural enzyme counterparts and summarizes the general overview of the nanozyme mechanism with a particular emphasis on the adsorbed intermediates and descriptors that predict the nanozyme activity The emerging activity assessment methodology that illustrates the relationship between electrochemical oxygen reduction and enzymatic oxygen reduction is discussed with up-to-date advances Future opportunities and challenges are presented in the end to spark more profound work and attract more researchers from various backgrounds to the flourishing field of nanozymes.

Recent Advancements in the Formulation of Nanomaterials-Based Nanozymes, Their Catalytic Activity, and Biomedical Applications

“…Moreover, Fe 3 O 4 MNPs demonstrated peroxidase activity in a wider pH range, with greater temperature tolerance (4–90 °C), and quicker reaction rates in comparison to HRP, and that is why they serve as reliable alternatives to HRP. Similar to HRP, Fe 3 O 4 MNPs undergo a ping-pong catalytic mechanism in which one product is formed and released prior to the attachment of another substrate molecule with the nanozyme . Fe 3 O 4 MNPs can exist in both Fe 2+ and Fe 3+ oxidation states, due to which they are capable of offering a wide range of catalytic functions even in the presence of excess peroxide.…”

Single atom nanozymes for bacterial infection therapy

“…Nanozymes, a kind of nanomaterial, have the capability to mimic the structure, properties, and biological functions of natural enzymes. 4,5 As early as 2007, Yan and her co-workers reported that Fe 3 O 4 nanoparticles can mimic peroxidase (POD) to catalyze the decomposition reaction of H 2 O 2 to produce hydroxyl radicals (˙OH). 6 Since then, a wide range of nanomaterials, including metal oxides, 7 metal sulfides, 8 metal organic frameworks (MOFs), 9 metal nanoparticles 10 etc ., have been extensively developed to mimic natural enzymes.…”

Nanozyme-Based Remodeling of Disease Microenvironments for Disease Prevention and Treatment: A Review

“…7 In 2013, Wei et al 10 further promoted the research of nanozymes in the field of biomedicine. 16 In the past decade, nanozymes have developed rapidly and been widely used in biomedical applications, including biosensing, cancer diagnosis and treatment, regenerative medicine, and neuroprotection. 17−19 Due to their broad enzyme-like activity, nanozymes can improve oxidative stress, scavenge reactive oxygen species, and regulate the local immune system; they also possess antibacterial and antiinflammatory properties.…”

“…In 2013, Wei et al conducted a systematic review of nanozymes, summarizing the development of nanozyme research and expanding the definition of nanozymes. With growing progress in the study of nanozymes, more catalytic mechanisms are being revealed by researchers. − The exploration of the catalytic mechanism of nanozymes has further promoted the research of nanozymes in the field of biomedicine …”