Synthesis, Catalytic Properties and Application in Biosensorics of Nanozymes and Electronanocatalysts: A Review

Abstract

The current review is devoted to nanozymes, i.e., nanostructured artificial enzymes which mimic the catalytic properties of natural enzymes. Use of the term “nanozyme” in the literature as indicating an enzyme is not always justified. For example, it is used inappropriately for nanomaterials bound with electrodes that possess catalytic activity only when applying an electric potential. If the enzyme-like activity of such a material is not proven in solution (without applying the potential), such a catalyst should be named an “electronanocatalyst”, not a nanozyme. This paper presents a review of the classification of the nanozymes, their advantages vs. natural enzymes, and potential practical applications. Special attention is paid to nanozyme synthesis methods (hydrothermal and solvothermal, chemical reduction, sol-gel method, co-precipitation, polymerization/polycondensation, electrochemical deposition). The catalytic performance of nanozymes is characterized, a critical point of view on catalytic parameters of nanozymes described in scientific papers is presented and typical mistakes are analyzed. The central part of the review relates to characterization of nanozymes which mimic natural enzymes with analytical importance (“nanoperoxidase”, “nanooxidases”, “nanolaccase”) and their use in the construction of electro-chemical (bio)sensors (“nanosensors”).

Micro‐Bio‐Chemo‐Mechanical‐Systems: Micromotors, Microfluidics, and Nanozymes for Biomedical Applications

“…Nanozymes offer size and composition‐dependent activity, which facilitates design of materials with a broad range of catalytic activity—by varying their shape, structure, and composition. [ 143 ] Natural enzymes are mostly proteins and can be considered as soft materials, whereas nanozymes are hard with porphyritic nuclei. [ 144 ] Compared to natural enzymes, nanozymes have large surface areas, which facilitate their modification and conjugation with other functional groups.…”

Molecular Dynamics Simulations of a Catalytic Multivalent Peptide–Nanoparticle Complex

“…Nanozymes [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 ], the artificially engineered functional nanomaterials, exhibit natural enzyme like intriguing catalytic activity and thus have huge applications in disease diagnosis [ 4 , 5 , 6 , 9 ], nanomedicine [ 4 , 5 , 6 , 10 ], environmental treatment [ 4 ], antimicrobial agent [ 11 ]. Although the existing natural enzymes demonstrate a potential role in medicine and industry, their functions are often sensitive to high temperature and extreme pH; moreover, high-cost preparation, difficulty in recycling, substrate sensitivity, low operational stability are some obstacles [ 1 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 ] that hinder their performance. Thus, the era of synthetic enzymes has been encompassing a broad range of scientific research studies; in particular, using polymers, dendrimers, fullerenes, micelles, and nanomaterials, to name a few [ 4 , 5 , 7 ].…”

“…Although the existing natural enzymes demonstrate a potential role in medicine and industry, their functions are often sensitive to high temperature and extreme pH; moreover, high-cost preparation, difficulty in recycling, substrate sensitivity, low operational stability are some obstacles [ 1 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 ] that hinder their performance. Thus, the era of synthetic enzymes has been encompassing a broad range of scientific research studies; in particular, using polymers, dendrimers, fullerenes, micelles, and nanomaterials, to name a few [ 4 , 5 , 7 ]. Among them, gold nanoclusters [ 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 ] (diameter < 10 nm) are emphasized as an impressive strategy not only because of the inherent optic, electronic, magnetic properties, but also for their easy surface modification, biocompatibility, inertness, low cost; leading to enhanced durability, stability and catalytic activity of nanozymes.…”

“…Nanozymes [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8], the artificially engineered functional nanomaterials, exhibit natural enzyme like intriguing catalytic activity and thus have huge applications in disease diagnosis [4][5][6]9], nanomedicine [4][5][6]10], environmental treatment [4], antimicrobial agent [11]. Although the existing natural enzymes demonstrate a potential role in medicine and industry, their functions are often sensitive to high temperature and extreme pH; moreover, high-cost preparation, difficulty in recycling, substrate sensitivity, low operational stability are some obstacles [1,[3][4][5][6][7] that hinder their performance.…”

Biosensors—Recent Advances and Future Challenges

“…Considering special features of nanomaterials, Stasyuk et al [ 16 ] summarized the recent findings about nanozymes. Nanozymes are defined as nanomaterials with enzyme-biomimicking features (e.g., gold nanoparticles that mimic oxidases activity, etc.).…”