Piezoelectric Effect Modulates Nanozyme Activity: Underlying Mechanism and Practical Application

Abstract

Nanozyme activity relies on surface electron transfer processes. Notably, the piezoelectric effect plays a vital role in influencing nanozyme activity by generating positive and negative charges on piezoelectric materials' surfaces. This article comprehensively reviews the potential mechanisms and practical applications of regulating nanozyme activity through the piezoelectric effect. The article first elucidates how the piezoelectric effect enables nanozymes to exhibit catalytic activity. It is highlighted that the positive and negative charges produced by this effect directly participate in redox reactions, leading to the conversion of materials from an inactive to an active state. Moreover, the piezoelectric field generated can enhance nanozyme activity by accelerating electron transfer rates or reducing binding energy between nanozymes and substrates. Practical applications of piezoelectric nanozymes are explored in the subsequent section, including water pollutant degradation, bacterial disinfection, biological detection, and tumor therapy, which demonstrate the versatile potentials of the piezoelectric effect in nanozyme applications. The review concludes by emphasizing the need for further research into the catalytic mechanisms of piezoelectric nanozymes, suggesting expanding the scope of catalytic types and exploring new application areas. Furthermore, the promising direction of synergistic catalytic therapy is discussed as an inspiring avenue for future research.

Transition-Metal-Based Nanozymes: Synthesis, Mechanisms of Therapeutic Action, and Applications in Cancer Treatment

“…Therefore, elucidating the specific mechanism behind nanozymes is crucial for designing and developing them effectively in biomedical applications. 90,91 This section aims to summarize the various catalytic mechanisms of nanozymes involved in the existing studies, including CAT-, POD-, OXD-, and SOD-like activities, hoping to provide some orientation for the future design of advanced nanozymes (Table 1).…”

“…Nanozymes can mimic the activity of natural enzymes valuable for diagnosing and treating various diseases, including cancer. , However, the broad applications of nanozymes are still hindered by their unclear catalytic mechanism. Therefore, elucidating the specific mechanism behind nanozymes is crucial for designing and developing them effectively in biomedical applications. , This section aims to summarize the various catalytic mechanisms of nanozymes involved in the existing studies, including CAT-, POD-, OXD-, and SOD-like activities, hoping to provide some orientation for the future design of advanced nanozymes (Table ).…”

Oxygen Vacancy Piezoelectric Nanosheets Constructed by a Photoetching Strategy for Ultrasound “Unlocked” Tumor Synergistic Therapy

“…Piezodynamic therapy (PzDT) is a tumor treatment method that uses mechanical energy to trigger the polarization of piezoelectric materials. Under the action of US, the enormous pressure generated by the rupture of cavitation bubbles has an achievable potential as a source of mechanical force for piezo-sonosensitizers. − A built-in electric field can be formed within the piezoelectric materials, which can lead to the bending of energy bands, separation of electron–hole pairs, and redox reactions in the tumor microenvironment (TME). Among them, the carrier concentration, charge complexation rate, and active sites of piezoelectric materials affect the piezoelectric properties, which in turn influence the efficiency of PzDT .…”