Recent progress of noble metal-based nanozymes: structure engineering and biomedical applications

Abstract

Due to the tunable catalytic activity, high chemical stability, and favorable electronic structure, noble metal-based nanozymes that can mimic important biocatalytic processes have attracted great attention. Rational structure design of noble metal-based nanozymes can endow them with excellent enzyme-like activities, enhanced sensitivity and stability, as well as unique physicochemical functionalities towards various biomedical applications such as sensing, diagnostics, disease treatment. This review summarizes the recent progress in structure engineering of noble metal-based nanozymes and emphasizes the relationship between key structural factors of nanozymes and their enzyme-like properties in various enzyme-mimicking reactions. The diverse applications of noble metal-based nanozymes in biosensors, antibiosis, and disease treatment are further introduced. Finally, current challenges and future research directions in noble metal-based nanozymes are discussed. This review could offer scientific guidance to design and fabricate advanced nanozymes with enhanced functionality and performance towards clinical, environmental and biomedical applications.