When nanozymes meet enzyme: Unlocking the dual-activity potential of integrated biocomposites

Integrating enzymes and nanozymes in various applications is a topic of significant interest. The researchers have explored the encapsulation of enzymes using diverse nanostructures to create nanomaterial-enzyme hybrids. These nanomaterials introduce unique properties that contribute to the additional activity along with the stabilization of enzymes in immobilized form, enabling a cascade of second-order reactions. This review centers on dual-activity nanozymes, providing insights into their applications in biosensors and biocatalysis. These applications leverage the enhanced catalytic activity and stability offered by dual-activity nanozymes. These nanozymes find promising applications in fields like bioremediation, offering eco-friendly solutions for mitigating environmental pollution while showing potential in medical diagnostics. The review delves into various techniques for creating enzyme-nanozyme hybrid catalysts, including adsorption, encapsulation, and incorporation methods. The review also addresses the challenges that must be overcome, such as overlapping catalytic surfaces and disparities in reaction rates in multi-enzyme cascade reactions. It concludes by presenting strategies to tackle these issues and offers insights into the field's promising future, suggesting that machine learning may drive further advancements in enzyme-nanozyme integration. This comprehensive exploration illuminates the present and charts a promising course for future innovations in the seamless integration of enzymes and nanozymes, heralding a new era of catalytic possibilities.