Antioxidant and Prooxidant Nanozymes: From Cellular Redox Regulation to Next-Generation Therapeutics.

Abstract

Nanozymes, nanomaterials with enzyme-mimicking activity, have attracted tremendous interest in recent years owing to their ability to replace natural enzymes in various biomedical applications. Nanozymes that can regulate the cellular redox status by mimicking the antioxidant enzymes in mammalian cells are of great therapeutic significance in oxidative stress-mediated disorders. As the distinction of physiological oxidative stress (oxidative eustress) and pathological oxidative stress (oxidative distress) occurs at a fine borderline, it is a great challenge to design nanozymes that can differentially sense the two extremes in cells, tissues and organs and mediate appropriate redox chemical reactions. In this review, we summarize the advances in the development of redox-active nanozymes and their biomedical applications. We highlight the therapeutic significance of the antioxidant and prooxidant nanozymes in various diseases such as cancer, neurodegeneration, and cardiovascular diseases.