Reversible inhibition of the oxidase-like activity of Fe single-atom nanozymes for drug detection

Mechanism research of nanozymes has always been of great interest since their emergence as outstanding mimics of friable natural enzymes. An important but rarely mentioned issue in mechanism research of nanozymology is the inhibitory effect of nanozymes. And conventional nanozymes with various active sites hinder the mechanism research, while single-atom Fe–N–C nanozymes with similar active sites to natural enzymes exhibit structural advantages. Herein, we synthesized Fe single-atom nanozymes (Fe-SANs) with ultrahigh oxidase-like activity and found that a common analgesic-antipyretic drug 4-acetamidophenol (AMP) had inhibitory effects for the oxidase-like activity of Fe-SANs. We investigated the inhibitory effects in detail and demonstrated that the inhibition type was reversible mixed-inhibition with inhibition constants (K_i and ) of 0.431 mM and 0.279 mM, respectively. Furthermore, we put forward a colorimetric method for AMP detection based on nanozyme inhibition. The research on the inhibitory effects of small molecules on nanozymes expands the scope of analysis based on nanozymes and the inhibition mechanism study may offer some insight into investigating the interaction between nanozymes and inhibitors.

Inhibitory effects of paracetamol on the oxidase-like activity of Fe single-atom nanozymes.     

Ensemble of single-atom catalysis and defect engineering in Cu1/CeO2 nanozymes for tumor therapy

As a class of nanomaterials with natural enzyme-like characteristics, nanozymes have shown their great potential in various applications. Reducible metal oxides featured with defect structures, and single-atom catalysts with isolated metal sites are regarded as two of the most promising nanozymes. However, the strategies to construct highly performed nanozymes by combining these advantages are rarely reported. Herein, we report the coordination-unsaturated single-atomic Cu species supported on s...     

Tuning iron spin states in single-atom nanozymes enables efficient peroxidase mimicking

The large-scale application of nanozymes remains a significant challenge owing to their unsatisfactory catalytic performances. Featuring a unique electronic structure and coordination environment, single-atom nanozymes provide great opportunities to vividly mimic the specific metal catalytic center of natural enzymes and achieve superior enzyme-like activity. In this study, the spin state engineering of Fe single-atom nanozymes (FeNC) is employed to enhance their peroxidase-like activity. Pd nanoclusters (Pd_NC) are introduced into FeNC, whose electron-withdrawing properties rearrange the spin electron occupation in Fe(ii) of FeNC–Pd_NC from low spin to medium spin, facilitating the heterolysis of H₂O₂ and timely desorption of H₂O. The spin-rearranged FeNC–Pd_NC exhibits greater H₂O₂ activation activity and rapid reaction kinetics compared to those of FeNC. As a proof of concept, FeNC–Pd_NC is used in the immunosorbent assay for the colorimetric detection of prostate-specific antigen and achieves an ultralow detection limit of 0.38 pg mL⁻¹. Our spin-state engineering strategy provides a fundamental understanding of the catalytic mechanism of nanozymes and facilitates the design of advanced enzyme mimics.

Spin-state engineering was proposed to enhance the peroxidase-like activity of single-atom nanozymes through the electron-withdrawing properties of Pd nanoclusters, which facilitates the heterolysis process of H₂O₂ and the desorption of H₂O.     

Supramolecular catalysis of orthoformate hydrolysis in basic solution: an enzyme-like mechanism

A water-soluble self-assembled supramolecular host molecule catalyzes the hydrolysis of orthoformates in basic solution. Comparison of the rate constants of the catalyzed and uncatalyzed reactions for hydrolysis displays rate accelerations of up to 3900 for tri- n-propyl orthoformate. Kinetic analysis shows that the mechanism of hydrolysis with the supramolecular host obeys the Michaelis-Menten model. Mechanistic studies, including (13)C-labeling experiments, revealed that the resting state of the catalytic system is the neutral substrate encapsulated in the host. Activation parameters for the k cat step of the reaction revealed that upon substrate encapsulation in the assembly, the entropy of activation becomes more negative in contrast to the uncatalyzed reaction. Furthermore, solvent isotope effects reveal a normal k(H 2O)/ k(D 2O) = 1.6, confirming an A-S E2 mechanism in which proton transfer occurs in the rate-limiting step. This is in contrast with the A1 mechanism of the uncatalyzed reaction in which decomposition of the protonated substrate is rate-limiting.     

5-Fluorouracil-containing inorganic iron oxide/platinum nanozymes with dual drug delivery and enzyme-like activity for the treatment of breast cancer

Intrinsic enzyme-mimic activity of inorganic nanoparticles has been widely used for nanozymatic anticancer and antibacterial treatment. However, the relatively low peroxidase-mimic activity (PMA) and catalse-mimic activity (CMA) of nanozymes in tumor microenvironment has hampered their potential application in the cancer therapy. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to fabricate platinum (Pt) nanozymes dispersed on the surface of iron oxide (Fe₃O₄) nanosphere that, in addition to boosting the PMA and CMA, resulted in the formation of a pH-sensitive nano-platform for drug delivery in breast cancer therapy. After development of Fe₃O₄ nanospheres containing Pt nanozymes and loading 5-fluorouracil (abbreviated as: Fe₃O₄/Pt-FLU@PEG nanospheres), the physicochemical properties of the nanospheres were examined by electron microscopy, dynamic light scattering, zeta potential, X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric, BET surface, and PMA/CMA analyses. Then, the cytotoxicity of the Fe₃O₄/Pt-FLU@PEG nanospheres against 4T1 cells was investigated by the cell counting kit-8 assay and flow cytometry. Also, the anticancer effect of fabricated nanoplatform was assessed in mouse bearing 4T1 cancer tumors, in vivo. The results showed that the Fe₃O₄/Pt-FLU@PEG nanospheres provide a platform for optimal FLU loading, continuous pH-sensitive drug release, and potential PMA and CMA to increase the level of ROS and O₂, respectively. Cytotoxicity outputs showed that the Fe₃O₄/Pt-FLU@PEG nanospheres mitigate the proliferation of 4T1 cancer cells mediated by apoptosis and intracellular generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Furthermore, in vivo assays indicated a significant reduction in tumor size and overcoming tumor hypoxia. Overall, we believe that the developed nanospheres with dual enzyme-mimic activity and pH-sensitive drug delivery can be used for ROS/chemotherapy double-modality antitumor therapy.     

单原子催化的最新进展

单原子催化剂由于其自身兼具均相催化剂的"孤立活性位点"和多相催化剂易于循环使用的特点,近年来受到了广泛关注.本综述概括了2015至2016年单原子催化领域的重要进展,重点介绍了新的催化剂制备方法、单原子金催化剂在CO氧化中的进展、单原子钯/铂催化的选择性加氢反应以及铂或非贵金属单原子催化剂在电化学中的应用等.在催化剂的合成方面,用传统的湿化学方法制备的单原子催化剂通常金属负载量较低,使得催化剂的常规表征比较困难.最近发展的一系列新型合成方法例如原子层沉积法、高温蒸汽转移法、光介还原法以及热解法等制备M?N?C等非贵金属催化剂等,尽管有不同程度的局限性,但均可以成功制备高负载量的单原子催化剂.单原子催化剂的载体得到了拓展,除传统的金属氧化物外,金属有机框架材料和二维材料等均被用于单原子催化剂的制备.在单原子催化剂的应用方面,金由于较高的电负性和与氧的弱相互作用能力,因而与氧化物载体作用较弱,不易形成单原子催化剂.但近期报道了成功制备的单原子金催化剂,在CO氧化反应、乙醇脱氢和二烯加氢反应中都有不错的进展.本文还介绍了铂和钯单原子(合金)催化剂在加氢反应中的优异活性及选择性,表明了单原子催化剂在选择性上的优势.将一种金属掺杂到另一种金属基底中制备的单原子合金催化剂也因其特异的性能备受关注.此外,对于化工生产中典型的均相催化反应,如氢甲酰化,单原子催化剂在无外加膦配体的情况下表现出高活性的同时还能很好地控制化学选择性,甚至达到令人满意的区域选择性,从实验上证明了单原子催化剂有望作为沟通均相催化和多相催化的桥梁.单原子催化剂在电催化和光催化中也得到了快速发展.铂单原子催化剂因其高原子利用率和高稳定性,在析氢反应和氧还原反应中有着良好的应用前景.另一方面,非贵金属特别是Co单原子催化剂在光电催化中因其优异的活性和巨大潜力得到了较深入的研究.除了上述进展,单原子催化领域还有许多基本问题需要继续深入研究,对单原子催化剂更加全面透彻的认识将为设计发展新型催化体系,扩展单原子催化领域提供指导和借鉴.     

Active site engineering of single-atom carbonaceous electrocatalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction

The electrocatalytic oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is the vital process at the cathode of next-generation electrochemical storage and conversion technologies, such as metal–air batteries and fuel cells. Single-metal-atom and nitrogen co-doped carbonaceous electrocatalysts (M–N–C) have emerged as attractive alternatives to noble-metal platinum for catalyzing the kinetically sluggish ORR due to their high electrical conductivity, large surface area, and structural tunability at the atomic level, however, their application is limited by the low intrinsic activity of the metal–nitrogen coordination sites (M–N_x) and inferior site density. In this Perspective, we summarize the recent progress and milestones relating to the active site engineering of single atom carbonous electrocatalysts for enhancing the ORR activity. Particular emphasis is placed on the emerging strategies for regulating the electronic structure of the single metal site and populating the site density. In addition, challenges and perspectives are provided regarding the future development of single atom carbonous electrocatalysts for the ORR and their utilization in practical use.

This Perspective summarizes and highlights the recent progress and milestones relating to the active site engineering of single atom carbonous electrocatalysts for enhancing the electrocatalytic oxygen reduction reaction activity.     

3D star-like atypical hybrid MOF derived single-atom catalyst boosts oxygen reduction catalysis

Developing high-efficiency,stable and non-precious electrocatalysts for oxygen reduction reaction(ORR)is highly important for energy conversion and storage.Single atom catalysts(SACs)show good potential in enhancing ORR,however,the specifical control over the coordination surroundings around single metal center to intrinsically modify the electron structure is still a great challenge.Herein,we demonstrate that a 3 D hybrid MOF composed of cobalt doped ZIF-L and ZIF-8,featuring star morphology with six equal branches,can be used as an advanced precursor for making the Co SACs for greatly boosted ORR.The as-synthesized Co_SA-N-C exhibits excellent ORR activity with E_1/2 of 0.891 V in alkaline medium,outperforming the commercial Pt/C by 39 m V.Moreover,the E_1/2 of Co_SA-N-C(0.790 V)is merely 15 m V,less than that of Pt/C(0.805 V)in acid medium,which is among the best in the reported state-of-the-art SACs.DFT calculations demonstrate that the enhanced ORR performance is assigned to the formation of atomically isolated cobalt atom coordinated three N atoms and one C atom,which is easier to decrease the free energy of rate determining step and accelerate the ORR process than that of traditional cobalt atom coordinated four N atoms.In addition,a primary Zn-air battery with Co_SA-N-C cathode reveals a maximum power density of 92.2 m W cm^-2 at 120.0 m A cm^-2,far higher than that of commercial catalysts(74.2 m W cm^-2 at 110.0 m A cm^-2).     

球差校正扫描透射电子显微镜(ac-STEM)探测单原子催化中的活性中心

近年来,"单原子催化"逐渐得到人们的认可与关注,成为催化领域新的前沿与热点之一.高分辨扫描透射电子显微镜(STEM),特别是带有球差校正(ac)的高角环形暗场扫描透射电子显微镜(ac-STEM-HAADF)是唯一能够直接"看到"催化剂中单个原子的工具.在单原子催化的发现、单原子催化剂的开发、催化剂制备的优化、以及单原子催化机理的理解方面具有举足轻重的、甚至是不可替代的作用.本文首先简述了早期的高分辨透射电子显微镜(HRTEM)逐步发展成目前的ac-STEM-HAADF的过程以及过程中各种电镜在单原子观察中的功能.然后综述了ac-STEM在单原子成像、检测单原子分散度及改进催化剂制备参数、检测单原子催化剂中单原子的配位及催化活性中心中的应用及其机遇与挑战.1990年代后期在透镜相差校正领域技术的突破使STEM的分辨率显著提高,因此STEM的单原子成像灵敏度得到明显改善,因而能够对实用催化剂中的单个重原子进行具有很好相衬度的常规检测.2000年代末期刘景月课题组开始进行系统的单原子催化剂合成与表征,表明ac-STEM-HAADF毫无疑问地能够进行实用催化剂中的单个金属原子的常规检测.随后与张涛课题组合作启动了一项采用简便可放大的共沉淀法制备单原子催化剂的项目并取得成功.相比于光谱表征提供样品平均与整体信息,电子显微镜能够提供具有空间分辨的局部信息.对于含有从微米到纳米不同级别不均一性的多相催化剂而言,该技术尤其具有价值.除了能够提供负载金属单原子的空间分布与分散度信息外,如果载体是晶体,ac-STEM-HAADF还能够提供每个金属原子相对于载体表面的空间配位信息.而对于非晶载体例如活性炭、无定型氧化硅等,则以上信息全部丢失,只能提供负载金属原子的空间分布与分散度信息.电子显微镜面临的最主要挑战在于电子束辐射效应:高能电子与样品作用会导致表面金属原子的迁移、表面官能团的消失或改变以及损坏样品等;还会引起环境电镜中气体的离子化.对于大多数催化剂而言,采用低能量电子束能够有效减少电子束辐射影响.由于电子束影响,目前还难以对单原子催化剂进行X射线能量色散谱和电子能量损失谱的常规检测,需要开发更加高效的检测器.此外,电子显微镜只提供三维材料的二维投影,因此在成像过程中不但三维信息丢失,而且对二维投影的解释也具有挑战,因此需要开发具有原子分辨率的三维成像技术.为了更好理解催化剂的制备和催化反应过程,也亟需发展具有单原子分辨率的环境电镜.     

Emerging material engineering strategies for amplifying photothermal heterogeneous CO2 catalysis

Closing the carbon loop,through CO2 capture and utilization,is a promising route to mitigate climate change.Solar energy is a sustainable energy source which ca...     

Emerging nanozymes for potentiating radiotherapy and radiation protection

While radiotherapy is a mainstay therapeutic modality for malignant tumor, the intrinsic tumor resistance to radiotherapy, as well as the concomitant radiation injury to adjacent healthy tissues, greatly limits the efficacy of cancer radiotherapy. As a result, the development of novel radioenhancers and radioprotectants is highly desired for clinical radiotherapy. In recent years, nanozymes have inspired ever-growing research interest because of their multi-enzyme activities and microenvironment-responsive feature. In view of the significant progress of nanozymes in radiation medicine, we, in this review, systematically illustrate the impressive progress of nanozymes for potentiating radiotherapy and radiation protection. First, the types of nanozymes used in tumor radiotherapy are briefly discussed. Subsequently, the main strategies of nanozymes to enhance the radiotherapy efficiency, including promoting the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), relieving hypoxia in tumor microenvironment and combining with other cancer therapeutic regimens, are summarized. Finally, the advances of typical nanozymes for preventing radiation-induced hematopoietic damage and gastrointestinal damage are highlighted.     

Gold nanoparticles as dehydrogenase mimicking nanozymes for estradiol degradation

Nanozyme catalysis has been mainly focused on a few chromogenic and fluorogenic substrates, while environmentally and biologically important compounds need to be tested to advance the field. In this work, we studied oxidation of estradiol (E2) in the presence of various nanomaterials including gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), nanoceria (CeO₂), Fe₃O₄, Fe₂O₃, MnO₂ and Mn₂O₃, and found that AuNPs had a dehydrogenase-mimicking activity to convert E2 to estrone (E1). This conversion was monitored using HPLC. The reaction was faster at higher pH and reached saturation at pH 8. Smaller AuNPs had a higher catalytic efficiency and 5 nm AuNPs were 4.8-fold faster than 13 nm at the same total surface area. Finally, we tried 17α-ethinylestradiol (EE2) as a substrate and found that 5 nm AuNPs can catalyze EE2 oxidation in the presence of H₂O₂. This work indicated that some nanomaterials can affect environmentally important hormones via oxidation reactions, and this study has expanded the scope of substrate of nanozymes.     

Recent progress in carbon-dots-based nanozymes for chemosensing and biomedical applications

Nanozymes are nanomaterials with enzyme-like activities that efficiently overcome the drawbacks of natural enzymes in biosensing, detection, and biomedical fields, and they are the most widely used artificial enzymes. Owing to their excellent catalytic characteristics, biocompatibility, and environmental favorability, carbon-dots-based (CDs) nanozymes have inspired a research upsurge. However, no review focusing on CDs nanozymes has been published, even though substantial advances have been achieved. Herein, the advances, catalytic activities, and applications of CDs nanozymes are highlighted and summarized. In addition, the critical issues and challenges of researching nanozymes are discussed. We hope that this review will broaden the horizons of nanozymes and CDs nanozymes, as well as promote their development.