Chapter 12 - Nanobiocatalysis for therapeutic applications

Abstract

Enzyme mimics are becoming more appealing as a means to bypass the constraints of naturally occurring enzymes. The purpose of nanozymes is to mimic the action of natural enzymes. As a very stable and inexpensive substitute for natural enzymes, nanozymes have evolved as functional nanomaterials with enzyme-like features. Nanozymes are engineered enzymes that combine the advantages of natural enzymes with the unique intrinsic characteristics of nanomaterials, such as magnetics, fluorescence, or near-infrared absorbance, potentially overcoming the downsides of natural enzymes (such as their costly price, limited stability, or difficult production). Therefore, developments in nanozymes exhibiting actions beyond their catalytic activity have brought new possibilities and applications in the biomedical sector. Since nanozymes have shown effectiveness in both disease detection and therapy, they are seeing increased usage in the field of biomedicine. This chapter gives a broad overview of how nanozymes can be used in medicine, with a focus on the most recent discoveries in the field.