Surface Chemistry of Biologically Active Reducible Oxide Nanozymes

• Published in: Advanced materials (Weinheim) Vol. 36; no. 10; pp. e2211261 - n/a
• Main Authors: Neal, Craig J., Kolanthai, Elayaraja, Wei, Fei, Coathup, Melanie, Seal, Sudipta
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Germany Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.03.2024
• Subjects: Adsorption; Biomolecules; Body fluids; cerium oxide; Chemical synthesis; Coronas; Enzymes; Metal oxides; Nanomaterials; Nanostructures; nanozyme; Oxides; protein corona; Protein Corona - chemistry; Proteins; reducible oxide; ROS scavenging; Substrates; Surface chemistry; cerium oxide; reducible oxide; nanozyme; ROS scavenging; protein corona
• ISSN: 0935-9648; 1521-4095; 1521-4095
• DOI: 10.1002/adma.202211261

Reducible metal oxide nanozymes (rNZs) are a subject of intense recent interest due to their catalytic nature, ease of synthesis, and complex surface character. Such materials contain surface sites which facilitate enzyme‐mimetic reactions via substrate coordination and redox cycling. Further, these surface reactive sites are shown to be highly sensitive to stresses within the nanomaterial lattice, the physicochemical environment, and to processing conditions occurring as part of their syntheses. When administered in vivo, a complex protein corona binds to the surface, redefining its biological identity and subsequent interactions within the biological system. Catalytic activities of rNZs each deliver a differing impact on protein corona formation, its composition, and in turn, their recognition, and internalization by host cells. Improving the understanding of the precise principles that dominate rNZ surface‐biomolecule adsorption raises the question of whether designer rNZs can be engineered to prevent corona formation, or indeed to produce “custom” protein coronas applied either in vitro, and preadministration, or formed immediately upon their exposure to body fluids. Here, fundamental surface chemistry processes and their implications in rNZ material performance are considered. In particular, material structures which inform component adsorption from the application environment, including substrates for enzyme‐mimetic reactions are discussed. Reducible metal oxide nanoparticles are increasingly being studied for biomedical and therapeutic applications. These materials are able to accomplish a broad range of catalytic surface reactions, as well as being amenable to designed enzyme‐mimetic activities as nanozymes. Here, physicochemical properties and material compositions informing optimal nanozyme activities by reducible metal oxide nanomaterials are considered.