Biochar Nanozyme from Silkworm Excrement for Scavenging Vapor-Phase Free Radicals in Cigarette Smoke

Serious lung diseases and other health problems caused by tobacco consumption are becoming more and more prominent all over the world. Scavenging the excessive harmful free radicals in cigarette smoke is proven to be an effective method in reducing the above problems. Carbon-based nanozymes have been widely studied due to their ability of scavenging free radicals. Accordingly, the biochar derived from silkworm excrement was reported as a nanozyme with free radical scavenging ability. The biochar nanozyme calcination at 900 °C with better free radical scavenging abilities was loaded into commercial cigarette filters for the following free radical scavenging verification in tobacco smoke. Mouse model results reveal the lung tissue could be improved by the addition of biochar nanozyme. This work not only provides an effective approach to reduce the harm caused by tobacco but also provides potential applications to rationally realize low-cost, ease of production, and a wide variety of biochar sources.