Abstract
Ceria (CeO2) nanostructures are well-known in catalysis for energy and environmental preservation and remediation. Recently, they have also been gaining momentum for biological applications in virtue of their unique redox properties that make them antioxidant or pro-oxidant, depending on the experimental conditions and ceria nanomorphology. In particular, interest has grown in the use of biotemplates to exert control over ceria morphology and reactivity. However, only a handful of reports exist on the use of specific biomolecules to template ceria nucleation and growth into defined nanostructures. This review focusses on the latest advancements in the area of biomolecular templates for ceria nanostructures and existing opportunities for their (bio)applications.
Highlights
Ceria is among the most studied metal oxides and it has attracted researchers’ interest for its ability to capture, store, and release oxygen, and has been widely applied to ”cleanair” catalytic conversion technologies, and, more generally, in catalysis [1,2]
Nanostructured ceria can mimic the activity of several enzymes, including superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT), which have been the subject of intense mechanistic investigations
They consisted of the codelivery of small interfering RNA and retinoic acid, as well as nanozyme activity mimicking superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) enzymes based on the electron transfer between cerium (III) and cerium (IV)
Summary
Ceria is among the most studied metal oxides and it has attracted researchers’ interest for its ability to capture, store, and release oxygen, and has been widely applied to ”cleanair” catalytic conversion technologies, and, more generally, in catalysis [1,2]. Nanomaterials 2021, 11, 2259 contrast, the opportunities offered by pure biomolecules and their folding or self-assembly in bottom-up approaches have yet to be deeply explored, and to our knowledge, they have not been reviewed until now based on the molecular classes they belong to (i.e., carbohydrates, proteins, nucleic acids, etc.). This is important considering the catalytic activities of nanosized ceria that are responsible for the observed biological effects, and how they are affected upon binding to biomolecules. We discuss relevant examples described in the last five years to outline potential applications for these materials, with an emphasis on the biological ones to maximize the benefits offered by using biomolecular templates to attain nanosized ceria
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