Exploration of nanozymes in viral diagnosis and therapy

Abstract

Nanozymes are nanomaterials with similar catalytic activities to natural enzymes. Compared with natural enzymes, they have numerous advantages, including higher physiochemical stability, versatility, and suitability for mass production. In the past decade, the synthesis of nanozymes and their catalytic mechanisms have advanced beyond the simple replacement of natural enzymes, allowing for fascinating applications in various fields such as biosensing and disease treatment. In particular, the exploration of nanozymes as powerful toolkits in diagnostic viral testing and antiviral therapy has attracted growing attention. It can address the great challenges faced by current natural enzyme-based viral testing technologies, such as high cost and storage difficulties. Therefore, nanozyme can provide a novel nanozyme-based antiviral therapeutic regime with broader availability and generalizability that are keys to fighting a pandemic such as COVID-19. Herein, we provide a timely review of the state-of-the-art nanozymes regarding their catalytic activities, as well as a focused discussion on recent research into the use of nanozymes in viral testing and therapy. The remaining challenges and future perspectives will also be outlined. Ultimately, this review will inform readers of the current knowledge of nanozymes and inspire more innovative studies to push forward the frontier of this field.

Keywords: antiviral; diagnosis; nanoparticle; nanozyme; treatment.

FIGURE 1

The various applications of nanozymes in diagnosing and treating viral diseases, and their advantages

FIGURE 2

The commonly used nanozyme mechanisms for efficient viral diagnosis

FIGURE 3

The nanozyme‐based immunoassay for viral tests. (A) The schematic illustration of the conventional colloidal gold strip (left) and Fe₃O₄‐dependent nanozyme‐strip (right) for EBOV‐glycoprotein (GP) detection. Reproduced with permission.^{[ 98 ]} Copyright 2015, Elsevier. (B) The schematic illustration of influenza A virus detection via magnetic nanobead‐based nano(e)zyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (MagLISA). Reproduced with permission.^{[ 100 ]} Copyright 2018, American Chemical Society. (C) Schematic Illustration of ELISA system based on the Au@Pt NRs conjugated with antigen. Reproduced with permission.^{[ 101 ]} Copyright 2018, Dove press. (D) The schematic illustration of signal amplification TMB‐NPs@PLGA nanozyme. Reproduced with permission.^{[ 103 ]} Copyright 2020, Elsevier. (E) The schematic illustration of the nanozyme‐integrated chemiluminescence paper test to detect SARS‐CoV‐2 S‐RBD antigen. Reproduced with permission.^{[ 104 ]} Copyright 2020, Elsevier

FIGURE 4

The nanozyme‐based DNA test for viral infection diagnosis. (A) Schematic illustration of NH2‐MIL‐101 MOFs for influenza A virus detection. Reproduced with permission.^{[ 107 ]} Copyright 2019, Elsevier. (B) Schematic illustration of nanoceria‐based both glucose and H₂O₂ sensing via displacement of adsorbed fluorescent DNA. Reproduced with permission.^{[ 110 ]} Copyright 2015, American Chemical Society. (C) Schematic illustration of AgNCs‐MoS2‐based assay for label‐free HBV DNA detection (i,ii). Schematic illustration of PtNPs‐MoS2‐based sensitive DNA sensing (iii,iv). Reproduced with permission.^{[ 111 ]} Copyright 2021 Elsevier

FIGURE 5

The schematic illustration of virus structure and nanozyme applications for efficient viral treatments

FIGURE 6

The nanozyme‐based viral entry inhibition strategies. (A) Schematic illustration of Ag‐TiO₂ SAN demonstrating anti‐SARS‐CoV2 activity via generative ROS within macrophage through POD‐like activity. Reproduced with permission.^{[ 116 ]} Copyright 2021, Elsevier. (B) Schematic illustration of IONzymes mediated viral lipid peroxidation to inactivate the virus. Reproduced with permission.^{[ 117 ]} Copyright 2019, Ivyspring

FIGURE 7

The nanozyme‐base viral RNA synthesis and assembly inhibition strategies. (A) Schematic illustration of GP_X‐like activity of Vs measurement via glutathione reductase (GR)‐coupled assay. Reproduced with permission.^{[ 118 ]} Copyright 2021, EMBO Press. (B) Schematic illustration of Ag₂S NCs antiviral activity by preventing synthesis of viral negative‐strand RNA and viral budding synthesis. Reproduced with permission.^{[ 121 ]} Copyright 2019, American Chemical Society

FIGURE 8

The nanozyme‐based other antiviral therapies. (A) Schematic mechanism illustration of CS‐IONzyme‐based vaccine to enhance the antigen‐specific immune response against influenza. Reproduced with permission.^{[ 123 ]} Copyright 2020, Wiley. (B) Schematic illustration of fenozyme based protection against cerebral malaria. Reproduced with permission.^{[ 125 ]} Copyright 2019, American Chemical Society