inflammatory response to combat infections and can also react with many important biomolecules including proteins, lipids, and nucleic acid polymers (RNA and DNA). [7] Low dosage of ROS plays important roles in signal transduction, cell proliferation/migration/differentiation, and body defense against pathogen invasion. However, abnormally elevated ROS level can destroy redox homeostasis and cause oxidative stress and serious damage of structure and function of macromolecules in the cell. Research during the last decade has shown that oxidative stress could lead to diseases such as chronic inflammation and eventually diabetes, cancer, as well as cardiovascular, neurological, and pulmonary diseases. [8] Enzyme systems (e.g., superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and catalase) are responsible for protecting cells from the detrimental effects of ROS by modulating the intracellular ROS level.Nanozyme can also modulate the ROS level in cells (Figure 2). [9] The ROS scavenging abilities of nanozymes largely originate from the SOD mimicking activities, which convert superoxide into H 2 O 2 and subsequently to O 2 and H 2 O, and thus reduce the intracellular ROS level and enhance cell viability. The generation of ROS originates from their peroxidases (POD) activities, which convert H 2 O 2 to OH· radicals, and oxidase activities, which convert O 2 to H 2 O 2 . Outside the cell, ROS can react with biologically active molecules (such as glucose, dopamine, glutathione, and adenosine triphosphate), organic compound (such as phenol and dyes), and pollutants from aqueous solutions. Thus the nanozymes could play important roles in in vitro test and environmental protection. [10] Earlier reports on nanozymes mainly focused on the aspect of experimental study and rarely focused on the theoretical work and mechanism clarification. In this progress report, we first introduce various nanozymes and highlight recent experimental development of new nanozymes that have been investigated to mimic various enzymes. Then we review their applications in various fields including biosensing, bioimaging, therapeutics, and environmental protection. At last, we summarize the catalytic mechanisms and address the challenges of experimental and computational research in this field.
The Structure of NanozymesIssues of material design for high catalytical activity, selectivity, and durability are recently accentuated. Among them As a new generation of artificial enzymes, nanozymes have the advantages of high catalytic activity, good stability, low cost, and other unique properties of nanomaterials. Due to their wide range of potential applications, they have become an emerging field bridging nanotechnology and biology, attracting researchers in various fields to design and synthesize highly catalytically active nanozymes. However, the thorough understanding of experimental phenomena and the mechanisms beneath practical applications of nanozymes limits their rapid development. Herein, the progress of experimental and computational...