Single-atom nanozymes: From bench to bedside

Single-atom nanozymes (SANs) are the new emerging catalytic nanomaterials with enzyme-mimetic activities, which have many extraordinary merits, such as low-cost preparation, maximum atom utilization, ideal catalytic activity, and optimized selectivity. With these advantages, SANs have received extensive research attention in the fields of chemistry, energy conversion, and environmental purification. Recently, a growing number of studies have shown the great promise of SANs in biological applications. In this article, we present the most recent developments of SANs in anti-infective treatment, cancer diagnosis and therapy, biosensing, and antioxidative therapy. This text is expected to better guide the readers to understand the current state and future clinical possibilities of SANs in medical applications.

Automated summary

Single-atom nanozymes (SANs), a new type of catalytic nanomaterials with enzyme-mimetic activities, have gained extensive research attention in the fields of chemistry, energy conversion, and environmental purification. Recent studies have demonstrated the great potential of SANs in biological applications, including anti-infective treatment, cancer diagnosis and therapy, biosensing, and antioxidative therapy.