Research Progress in Iron-Based Nanozymes: Catalytic Mechanisms, Classification, and Biomedical Applications

Natural enzymes are crucial in biological systems andwidely usedin biology and medicine, but their disadvantages, such as insufficientstability and high-cost, have limited their wide application. SinceFe(3)O(4) nanoparticles were found to show peroxidase-likeactivity, researchers have designed and developed a growing numberof nanozymes that mimic the activity of natural enzymes. Nanozymescan compensate for the defects of natural enzymes and show higherstability with lower cost. Iron, a nontoxic and low-cost transitionmetal, has been used to synthesize a variety of iron-based nanozymeswith unique structural and physicochemical properties to obtain differentenzymes mimicking catalytic properties. In this perspective, catalyticmechanisms, activity modulation, and their recent research progressin sensing, tumor therapy, and antibacterial and anti-inflammatoryapplications are systematically presented. The challenges and perspectiveson the development of iron-based nanozymes are also analyzed and discussed.

Automated summary

Natural enzymes are important but have limitations in terms of stability and cost, leading researchers to design nanozymes that mimic their catalytic activity. These iron-based nanozymes have unique properties and can overcome the disadvantages of natural enzymes, offering higher stability at a lower cost. This article provides a systematic presentation of the catalytic mechanisms, activity modulation, and recent research progress of iron-based nanozymes in various applications, and also analyzes the challenges and perspectives in their development.