New horizons for therapeutic applications of nanozymes in oral infection

Abstract

As a category of nanomaterials with excellent catalytic efficiency, great substrate specificity, and high recovery efficiency, nanozymes have attracted increasing attention in various biomedical applications. Currently, numbers of nanozyme-assisted strategies have been well developed for the theranostics of various diseases by taking advantages of their multienzyme-like characteristics, low cost, and high stability. As the most prevalent oral diseases, oral infection poses a global hazard to human health, and current therapeutic options are insufficient to resolve all the clinical issues. Based on their admirable activity, nanozymes can be frequently employed in the identification and treatment of various oral infectious disorders. Herein, we provide a brief review focused on the classification of nanozymes, analyses of nanozyme-based antibacterial mechanism, research progress in oral bacterial control, and representative studies of nanozyme-assisted oral inflammatory management. Moreover, major challenges and potential opportunities regarding the use of nanozymes in oral infectious diseases are also highlighted and discussed. This review not only summarizes the recent studies of nanozymes in oral infection but also promotes the further development of enzyme-mimetic strategies towards various oral diseases.