Inorganic nanoparticles with enzyme-mimetic activities for biomedical applications

Spurred by the recent advances in the chemical synthesis of nanomaterials, a group of inorganic nanoparticles with enzyme-mimetic activities has emerged as a new candidate to lead the future of nanomedicine. These so-called nanozymes have several advantages over their natural counterparts, such as more robust catalytic activities over wide ranges of pH and temperature, more economical production cost, and higher design flexibility through the integration and modification of various functional molecules and nanomaterials. To help readers understand this rapidly expanding field, we herein provide a short overview of the enzyme-mimetic activities of inorganic nanoparticles and their applications, with an emphasis on ceria and iron oxide nanoparticles, two of the most widely used nanozymes. Properties of other inorganic nanoparticle-based nanozymes are also briefly summarized. Finally, their current limitations and future outlook are discussed.