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Zhang J, Pan Y, Liu L, Xu Y, Zhao C, Liu W, Rao L. Genetically Edited Cascade Nanozymes for Cancer Immunotherapy. ACS NANO 2024; 18:12295-12310. [PMID: 38695532 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.4c01229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/15/2024]
Abstract
Immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) has brought tremendous clinical progress, but its therapeutic outcome can be limited due to insufficient activation of dendritic cells (DCs) and insufficient infiltration of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs). Evoking immunogenic cell death (ICD) is one promising strategy to promote DC maturation and elicit T-cell immunity, whereas low levels of ICD induction of solid tumors restrict durable antitumor efficacy. Herein, we report a genetically edited cell membrane-coated cascade nanozyme (gCM@MnAu) for enhanced cancer immunotherapy by inducing ICD and activating the stimulator of the interferon genes (STING) pathway. In the tumor microenvironment (TME), the gCM@MnAu initiates a cascade reaction and generates abundant cytotoxic hydroxyl (•OH), resulting in improved chemodynamic therapy (CDT) and boosted ICD activation. In addition, released Mn2+ during the cascade reaction activates the STING pathway and further promotes the DC maturation. More importantly, activated immunogenicity in the TME significantly improves gCM-mediated PD-1/PD-L1 checkpoint blockade therapy by eliciting systemic antitumor responses. In breast cancer subcutaneous and lung metastasis models, the gCM@MnAu showed synergistically enhanced therapeutic effects and significantly prolonged the survival of mice. This work develops a genetically edited nanozyme-based therapeutic strategy to improve DC-mediated cross-priming of T cells against poorly immunogenic solid tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Artificial Micro- and Nano-Structures of Ministry of Education, School of Physics and Technology, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
- Institute of Biomedical Health Technology and Engineering, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Shenzhen 518132, China
| | - Yuanwei Pan
- Institute of Biomedical Health Technology and Engineering, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Shenzhen 518132, China
| | - Lujie Liu
- Institute of Biomedical Health Technology and Engineering, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Shenzhen 518132, China
| | - Yangtao Xu
- Institute of Biomedical Health Technology and Engineering, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Shenzhen 518132, China
- Cancer Center, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, China
| | - Chenchen Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Artificial Micro- and Nano-Structures of Ministry of Education, School of Physics and Technology, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
- Institute of Biomedical Health Technology and Engineering, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Shenzhen 518132, China
| | - Wei Liu
- Key Laboratory of Artificial Micro- and Nano-Structures of Ministry of Education, School of Physics and Technology, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
- School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences, Wuhan Textile University, Wuhan 430200, China
| | - Lang Rao
- Institute of Biomedical Health Technology and Engineering, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Shenzhen 518132, China
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Liu Q, Wang C, Zhu M, Liu J, Duan Q, Midgley AC, Liu R, Jiang B, Kong D, Chen Q, Zhuang J, Huang X. Self-Assembly of Heterogeneous Ferritin Nanocages for Tumor Uptake and Penetration. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2024; 11:e2309271. [PMID: 38368258 PMCID: PMC11077646 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202309271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2023] [Revised: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 02/19/2024]
Abstract
Well-defined nanostructures are crucial for precisely understanding nano-bio interactions. However, nanoparticles (NPs) fabricated through conventional synthesis approaches often lack poor controllability and reproducibility. Herein, a synthetic biology-based strategy is introduced to fabricate uniformly reproducible protein-based NPs, achieving precise control over heterogeneous components of the NPs. Specifically, a ferritin assembly toolbox system is developed that enables intracellular assembly of ferritin subunits/variants in Escherichia coli. Using this strategy, a proof-of-concept study is provided to explore the interplay between ligand density of NPs and their tumor targets/penetration. Various ferritin hybrid nanocages (FHn) containing human ferritin heavy chains (FH) and light chains are accurately assembled, leveraging their intrinsic binding with tumor cells and prolonged circulation time in blood, respectively. Further studies reveal that tumor cell uptake is FH density-dependent through active binding with transferrin receptor 1, whereas in vivo tumor accumulation and tissue penetration are found to be correlated to heterogeneous assembly of FHn and vascular permeability of tumors. Densities of 3.7 FH/100 nm2 on the nanoparticle surface exhibit the highest degree of tumor accumulation and penetration, particularly in tumors with high permeability compared to those with low permeability. This study underscores the significance of nanoparticle heterogeneity in determining particle fate in biological systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiqi Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical BiologyKey Laboratory of Bioactive Materials for the Ministry of EducationCollege of Life Sciencesand Frontier of Science Center for Cell ResponseNankai UniversityTianjin300071China
| | - Chunyu Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical BiologyKey Laboratory of Bioactive Materials for the Ministry of EducationCollege of Life Sciencesand Frontier of Science Center for Cell ResponseNankai UniversityTianjin300071China
| | - Mingsheng Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical BiologyKey Laboratory of Bioactive Materials for the Ministry of EducationCollege of Life Sciencesand Frontier of Science Center for Cell ResponseNankai UniversityTianjin300071China
| | - Jinming Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical BiologyKey Laboratory of Bioactive Materials for the Ministry of EducationCollege of Life Sciencesand Frontier of Science Center for Cell ResponseNankai UniversityTianjin300071China
| | - Qiannan Duan
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical BiologyKey Laboratory of Bioactive Materials for the Ministry of EducationCollege of Life Sciencesand Frontier of Science Center for Cell ResponseNankai UniversityTianjin300071China
| | - Adam C. Midgley
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical BiologyKey Laboratory of Bioactive Materials for the Ministry of EducationCollege of Life Sciencesand Frontier of Science Center for Cell ResponseNankai UniversityTianjin300071China
| | - Ruming Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical BiologyKey Laboratory of Bioactive Materials for the Ministry of EducationCollege of Life Sciencesand Frontier of Science Center for Cell ResponseNankai UniversityTianjin300071China
| | - Bing Jiang
- Nanozyme Medical CenterSchool of Basic Medical SciencesZhengzhou UniversityZhengzhou450001China
| | - Deling Kong
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical BiologyKey Laboratory of Bioactive Materials for the Ministry of EducationCollege of Life Sciencesand Frontier of Science Center for Cell ResponseNankai UniversityTianjin300071China
| | - Quan Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical BiologyKey Laboratory of Bioactive Materials for the Ministry of EducationCollege of Life Sciencesand Frontier of Science Center for Cell ResponseNankai UniversityTianjin300071China
| | - Jie Zhuang
- School of MedicineNankai UniversityTianjin300071China
| | - Xinglu Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical BiologyKey Laboratory of Bioactive Materials for the Ministry of EducationCollege of Life Sciencesand Frontier of Science Center for Cell ResponseNankai UniversityTianjin300071China
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Yang Z, Guo J, Wang L, Zhang J, Ding L, Liu H, Yu X. Nanozyme-Enhanced Electrochemical Biosensors: Mechanisms and Applications. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2024; 20:e2307815. [PMID: 37985947 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202307815] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2023] [Revised: 10/22/2023] [Indexed: 11/22/2023]
Abstract
Nanozymes, as innovative materials, have demonstrated remarkable potential in the field of electrochemical biosensors. This article provides an overview of the mechanisms and extensive practical applications of nanozymes in electrochemical biosensors. First, the definition and characteristics of nanozymes are introduced, emphasizing their significant role in constructing efficient sensors. Subsequently, several common categories of nanozyme materials are delved into, including metal-based, carbon-based, metal-organic framework, and layered double hydroxide nanostructures, discussing their applications in electrochemical biosensors. Regarding their mechanisms, two key roles of nanozymes are particularly focused in electrochemical biosensors: selective enhancement and signal amplification, which crucially support the enhancement of sensor performance. In terms of practical applications, the widespread use of nanozyme-based electrochemical biosensors are showcased in various domains. From detecting biomolecules, pollutants, nucleic acids, proteins, to cells, providing robust means for high-sensitivity detection. Furthermore, insights into the future development of nanozyme-based electrochemical biosensors is provided, encompassing improvements and optimizations of nanozyme materials, innovative sensor design and integration, and the expansion of application fields through interdisciplinary collaboration. In conclusion, this article systematically presents the mechanisms and applications of nanozymes in electrochemical biosensors, offering valuable references and prospects for research and development in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhongwei Yang
- Institute for Advanced Interdisciplinary Research (iAIR), School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, University of Jinan, Jinan, 250022, P. R. China
| | - Jiawei Guo
- Institute for Advanced Interdisciplinary Research (iAIR), School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, University of Jinan, Jinan, 250022, P. R. China
| | - Longwei Wang
- CAS Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety & CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology of China, University of Chinese Academy of Science, Beijing, 100190, P. R. China
| | - Jian Zhang
- Division of Systems and Synthetic Biology, Department of Life Sciences, Chalmers University of Technology, Göteborg, 41296, Sweden
| | - Longhua Ding
- Institute for Advanced Interdisciplinary Research (iAIR), School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, University of Jinan, Jinan, 250022, P. R. China
| | - Hong Liu
- Institute for Advanced Interdisciplinary Research (iAIR), School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, University of Jinan, Jinan, 250022, P. R. China
- State Key Laboratory of Crystal Materials, Shandong University, Jinan, 250100, P. R. China
| | - Xin Yu
- Institute for Advanced Interdisciplinary Research (iAIR), School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, University of Jinan, Jinan, 250022, P. R. China
- Key Laboratory of Optic-electric Sensing and Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, MOE, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao, 266042, P. R. China
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Zhang G, Hao R, Zhang J, Wu D, Zeng L. Photothermal-promoted O 2/OH generation of gold nanotetrapod @ platinum nano-islands for enhanced catalytic/photodynamic therapy. J Colloid Interface Sci 2024; 658:301-312. [PMID: 38109817 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2023.12.074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2023] [Revised: 12/08/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 12/20/2023]
Abstract
Ultrasmall platinum (Pt) nanozymes are used for catalytic therapy and oxygen (O2)-dependent photodynamic therapy (PDT) by harnessing the dual-enzyme activities of catalase (CAT) and peroxidase (POD). However, their applications as nanocatalysts are limited due to their low catalytic activity. Herein, we constructed a photothermal-promoted bimetallic nanoplatform (AuNTP@Pt-IR808) by depositing ultrasmall Pt nano-islands and modifying 1-(5-Carboxypentyl)-2-(2-(3-(2-(1-(5-carboxypentyl)-3,3-dimethylindolin-2-ylidene)ethylidene)-2-chlorocyclohex-1-en-1-yl)vinyl)-3,3-dimethyl-3H-indol-1-ium bromide (IR808) on gold nanotetrapod (AuNTP) with CAT/POD activities to enhance PDT/catalytic therapy. In the tumor microenvironment, the ultrasmall Pt can catalyze endogenous hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) to produce O2, relieving tumor hypoxia and enhancing the PDT performance. Moreover, AuNTP integration into the bimetallic nanoplatform showed good electron transfer properties and promoted the POD activity of ultrasmall Pt. Importantly, AuNTP@Pt-IR808 possessed higher photothermal conversion performance than single AuNTPs, which enhanced photothermal therapy (PTT). It also accelerated the CAT/POD dual-enzyme activities, and promoted the generation of singlet oxygen (1O2) and hydroxyl radical (OH). By enhancing the performances of PTT/PDT/catalytic therapy, the developed AuNTP@Pt-IR808 nanoplatform demonstrated good antitumor efficacy against breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gangwan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of New Pharmaceutical Preparations and Excipients, Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Diagnosis of the Ministry of Education, Chemical Biology Key Laboratory of Hebei Province, Institute of Life Science and Green Development, College of Chemistry and Materials Science, Hebei University, Baoding 071002, PR China
| | - Ran Hao
- State Key Laboratory of New Pharmaceutical Preparations and Excipients, Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Diagnosis of the Ministry of Education, Chemical Biology Key Laboratory of Hebei Province, Institute of Life Science and Green Development, College of Chemistry and Materials Science, Hebei University, Baoding 071002, PR China
| | - Jiahe Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of New Pharmaceutical Preparations and Excipients, Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Diagnosis of the Ministry of Education, Chemical Biology Key Laboratory of Hebei Province, Institute of Life Science and Green Development, College of Chemistry and Materials Science, Hebei University, Baoding 071002, PR China
| | - Di Wu
- State Key Laboratory of New Pharmaceutical Preparations and Excipients, Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Diagnosis of the Ministry of Education, Chemical Biology Key Laboratory of Hebei Province, Institute of Life Science and Green Development, College of Chemistry and Materials Science, Hebei University, Baoding 071002, PR China
| | - Leyong Zeng
- State Key Laboratory of New Pharmaceutical Preparations and Excipients, Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Diagnosis of the Ministry of Education, Chemical Biology Key Laboratory of Hebei Province, Institute of Life Science and Green Development, College of Chemistry and Materials Science, Hebei University, Baoding 071002, PR China.
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Zhuang J, Midgley AC, Wei Y, Liu Q, Kong D, Huang X. Machine-Learning-Assisted Nanozyme Design: Lessons from Materials and Engineered Enzymes. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2024; 36:e2210848. [PMID: 36701424 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202210848] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2022] [Revised: 01/03/2023] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Nanozymes are nanomaterials that exhibit enzyme-like biomimicry. In combination with intrinsic characteristics of nanomaterials, nanozymes have broad applicability in materials science, chemical engineering, bioengineering, biochemistry, and disease theranostics. Recently, the heterogeneity of published results has highlighted the complexity and diversity of nanozymes in terms of consistency of catalytic capacity. Machine learning (ML) shows promising potential for discovering new materials, yet it remains challenging for the design of new nanozymes based on ML approaches. Alternatively, ML is employed to promote optimization of intelligent design and application of catalytic materials and engineered enzymes. Incorporation of the successful ML algorithms used in the intelligent design of catalytic materials and engineered enzymes can concomitantly facilitate the guided development of next-generation nanozymes with desirable properties. Here, recent progress in ML, its utilization in the design of catalytic materials and enzymes, and how emergent ML applications serve as promising strategies to circumvent challenges associated with time-expensive and laborious testing in nanozyme research and development are summarized. The potential applications of successful examples of ML-aided catalytic materials and engineered enzymes in nanozyme design are also highlighted, with special focus on the unified aims in enhancing design and recapitulation of substrate selectivity and catalytic activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Zhuang
- School of Medicine, and State, Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, China
| | - Adam C Midgley
- Key Laboratory of Bioactive Materials for the Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, and Frontiers, Science Center for Cell Responses, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, China
| | - Yonghua Wei
- Key Laboratory of Bioactive Materials for the Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, and Frontiers, Science Center for Cell Responses, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, China
| | - Qiqi Liu
- Key Laboratory of Bioactive Materials for the Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, and Frontiers, Science Center for Cell Responses, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, China
| | - Deling Kong
- Key Laboratory of Bioactive Materials for the Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, and Frontiers, Science Center for Cell Responses, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, China
| | - Xinglu Huang
- Key Laboratory of Bioactive Materials for the Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, and Frontiers, Science Center for Cell Responses, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, China
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6
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Zhang L, Wang H, Qu X. Biosystem-Inspired Engineering of Nanozymes for Biomedical Applications. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2024; 36:e2211147. [PMID: 36622946 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202211147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 38.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2022] [Revised: 12/22/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Nanozymes with intrinsic enzyme-mimicking activities have shown great potential to become surrogates of natural enzymes in many fields by virtue of their advantages of high catalytic stability, ease of functionalization, and low cost. However, due to the lack of predictable descriptors, most of the nanozymes reported in the past have been obtained mainly through trial-and-error strategies, and the catalytic efficacy, substrate specificity, as well as practical application effect under physiological conditions, are far inferior to that of natural enzymes. To optimize the catalytic efficacies and functions of nanozymes in biomedical settings, recent studies have introduced biosystem-inspired strategies into nanozyme design. In this review, recent advances in the engineering of biosystem-inspired nanozymes by leveraging the refined catalytic structure of natural enzymes, simulating the behavior changes of natural enzymes in the catalytic process, and mimicking the specific biological processes or living organisms, are introduced. Furthermore, the currently involved biomedical applications of biosystem-inspired nanozymes are summarized. More importantly, the current opportunities and challenges of the design and application of biosystem-inspired nanozymes are discussed. It is hoped that the studies of nanozymes based on bioinspired strategies will be beneficial for constructing the new generation of nanozymes and broadening their biomedical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lu Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Rare Earth Resource Utilization and Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun, Jilin, 130022, P. R. China
- School of Applied Chemistry and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230026, P. R. China
| | - Huan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Rare Earth Resource Utilization and Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun, Jilin, 130022, P. R. China
- School of Applied Chemistry and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230026, P. R. China
| | - Xiaogang Qu
- State Key Laboratory of Rare Earth Resource Utilization and Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun, Jilin, 130022, P. R. China
- School of Applied Chemistry and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230026, P. R. China
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Wang C, Liu Q, Huang X, Zhuang J. Ferritin nanocages: a versatile platform for nanozyme design. J Mater Chem B 2023; 11:4153-4170. [PMID: 37158014 DOI: 10.1039/d3tb00192j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
Nanozymes are a class of nanomaterials with enzyme-like activities and have attracted increasing attention due to their potential applications in biomedicine. However, nanozyme design incorporating the desired properties remains challenging. Natural or genetically engineered protein scaffolds, such as ferritin nanocages, have emerged as a promising platform for nanozyme design due to their unique protein structure, natural biomineralization capacity, self-assembly properties, and high biocompatibility. In this review, we highlight the intrinsic properties of ferritin nanocages, especially for nanozyme design. We also discuss the advantages of genetically engineered ferritin in the versatile design of nanozymes over natural ferritin. Additionally, we summarize the bioapplications of ferritin-based nanozymes based on their enzyme-mimicking activities. In this perspective, we mainly provide potential insights into the utilization of ferritin nanocages for nanozyme design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunyu Wang
- School of Medicine, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China.
- Key Laboratory of Bioactive Materials for the Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, and Frontiers Science Center for Cell Responses, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China.
| | - Qiqi Liu
- Key Laboratory of Bioactive Materials for the Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, and Frontiers Science Center for Cell Responses, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China.
| | - Xinglu Huang
- Key Laboratory of Bioactive Materials for the Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, and Frontiers Science Center for Cell Responses, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China.
| | - Jie Zhuang
- School of Medicine, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China.
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Protein encapsulation of nanocatalysts: A feasible approach to facilitate catalytic theranostics. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2023; 192:114648. [PMID: 36513163 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2022.114648] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2022] [Revised: 11/14/2022] [Accepted: 12/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Enzyme-mimicking nanocatalysts, also termed nanozymes, have attracted much attention in recent years. They are considered potential alternatives to natural enzymes due to their multiple catalytic activities and high stability. However, concerns regarding the colloidal stability, catalytic specificity, efficiency and biosafety of nanomaterials in biomedical applications still need to be addressed. Proteins are biodegradable macromolecules that exhibit superior biocompatibility and inherent bioactivities; hence, the protein modification of nanocatalysts is expected to improve their bioavailability to match clinical needs. The diversity of amino acid residues in proteins provides abundant functional groups for the conjugation or encapsulation of nanocatalysts. Moreover, protein encapsulation can not only improve the overall performance of nanocatalysts in biological systems, but also bestow materials with new features, such as targeting and retention in pathological sites. This review aims to report the recent developments and perspectives of protein-encapsulated catalysts in their functional improvements, modification methods and applications in biomedicine.
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