Recent Advances in Nanozyme-Mediated Strategies for Pathogen Detection and Control

Abstract

Pathogen detection and control have long presented formidable challenges in the domains of medicine and public health. This review paper underscores the potential of nanozymes as emerging bio-mimetic enzymes that hold promise in effectively tackling these challenges. The key features and advantages of nanozymes are introduced, encompassing their comparable catalytic activity to natural enzymes, enhanced stability and reliability, cost effectiveness, and straightforward preparation methods. Subsequently, the paper delves into the detailed utilization of nanozymes for pathogen detection. This includes their application as biosensors, facilitating rapid and sensitive identification of diverse pathogens, including bacteria, viruses, and plasmodium. Furthermore, the paper explores strategies employing nanozymes for pathogen control, such as the regulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), HOBr/Cl regulation, and clearance of extracellular DNA to impede pathogen growth and transmission. The review underscores the vast potential of nanozymes in pathogen detection and control through numerous specific examples and case studies. The authors highlight the efficiency, rapidity, and specificity of pathogen detection achieved with nanozymes, employing various strategies. They also demonstrate the feasibility of nanozymes in hindering pathogen growth and transmission. These innovative approaches employing nanozymes are projected to provide novel options for early disease diagnoses, treatment, and prevention. Through a comprehensive discourse on the characteristics and advantages of nanozymes, as well as diverse application approaches, this paper serves as a crucial reference and guide for further research and development in nanozyme technology. The expectation is that such advancements will significantly contribute to enhancing disease control measures and improving public health outcomes.

Keywords: antibacterial; detection; food safety; nanozyme; pathogens; therapy.

Figure 1

A concise overview of nanozymes regarding their mechanisms, mimetic categories, targets, and classifications.

Figure 2

Schematic diagram of the synthesis, mechanism, and application of Fe₃Ni-MOF/GOx (reproduced from Mu et al., 2022) [59].

Figure 3

Illustration of the classification of CAT-like nanozymes based on different nanomaterials (reproduced from Deting et al., 2022) [62].

Figure 4

The stability and enzyme-like catalytic activity in the CuAAC reaction of the CCN clickase, and the catalytic mechanism of the CCN-clickase-mediated CuAAC reaction between 3-azide-7hydroxycoumarin and propargyl alcohol (reproduced from Zhang et al., 2021) [64].

Figure 5

The diagram presented in (a) illustrates the synthesis process of the vancomycin-modified dual-signal tag, while (b) demonstrates the mechanisms employed for the rapid detection of Staphylococcus aureus using a dual-signal tag-based lateral flow assay (LFA) strip (reproduced from Wang et al. (2021) [91] under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported Licence).

Figure 6

Figure (a) depicts the synthetic procedure employed for creating the antigen-labeled Au@Pt@SiO₂ nanozyme. The schematic illustrates the sequential steps involved in synthesizing this nanozyme, highlighting the incorporation of antigen labels onto the surface of Au@Pt@SiO₂ nanoparticles. Figure (b) elucidates the detailed process of conducting an immunoassay using the antigen-labeled Au@Pt@SiO₂ nanozyme-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) system. The diagram clarifies key stages of this immunoassay, including target antigen immobilization, specific antibody recognition and binding, signal generation through nanozyme catalytic activity, and the subsequent quantification or analysis of generated signals (reproduced from Li et al. (2019) [118] under the Creative Commons CC BY license).

Figure 7

The schematic diagram depicts the CaT-SMelor system, encompassing multiple components and their interactions. These include MC (microcrystalline cellulose), aTF (allosteric transcription factor), CBD (cellulose-binding domain), dsDNA (double-stranded DNA), and FQ-labeled ssDNA (fluorophore-quencher-labeled single-stranded DNA). The diagram elucidates the interrelationships and functionalities of these constituents within the CaT-SMelor system (reproduced from Liang et al., (2019) [130] under the Creative Commons CC BY license).

Figure 8

ROS-based nanomedicine has emerged as a promising strategy for diverse applications in the field of medical science. The unique material chemistry associated with nanomedicines confers distinctive capabilities in generating or depleting ROS, thereby facilitating the treatment of various pathological dysfunctions, including but not limited to cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, and bacterial infections. Concurrently, analytical technologies have been developed to evaluate the effectiveness of these therapeutic platforms in regulating ROS levels, ensuring accurate assessment of their ROS-modulating performance (reproduced from Yang et al., 2019) [152].

Figure 9

Antimicrobial activity of V₂O₅ nanowires. (a) When incorporated into a matrix (such as paint) and subsequently applied onto a metallic surface, the V₂O₅ nanowires exhibit bactericidal properties. The nanowires, depicted as yellow-green rods, are embedded within the matrix. (b) Upon encountering V₂O₅ nanowires, bacteria exhibit increased susceptibility and are more easily neutralized. (c) The V₂O₅/paint nanocomposite exhibits inherent biomimetic catalytic behavior similar to that of vanadium haloperoxidases (V-HPOs). In the presence of substrates such as Br₂ and H₂O₂, small amounts of hypobromous acid (HOBr, represented as small light-blue spheres) are continuously generated. (d) The HOBr released as a result of the catalytic reaction disrupts the quorum-sensing mechanism employed by bacteria, thereby hindering bacterial adhesion and impeding the formation of biofilms (reproduced from Natalio et al., 2012) [158].

Figure 10

The provided information describes a schematic illustration of DNA-mediated Au-Pt nanoparticles that exhibit both photothermal characteristics and enhanced enzyme-like catalytic activity. These nanoparticles are further utilized for the eradication of E. coli O157:H7 as well as for the colorimetric detection of the same bacterium (reproduced from Lu et al., 2021) [167].

Figure 11

Figure (a) illustrates the synthesis process employed for GGFzyme, showcasing the sequential steps involved in its creation using a specified methodology. Figure (b) demonstrates the application of GGFzyme in inhibiting MRSA infection in hyperglycemic mice with wounds. The diagram depicts the specific intervention and its impact on reducing MRSA infection near the wounds in these mice exhibiting hyperglycemia (reproduced from Shi et al., 2022) [182].

Figure 12

Schematic illustration of Cu-PBG-mediated antibacterial therapy (reproduced from Liu et al., 2021) [186].

Figure 13

Parallel catalytic therapy was conducted in a subcutaneous tumor model. The study provided (a) schematics illustrating intratumoral administrations and the formation of an injectable hydrogel. (b) Body-weight curves, (c) tumor proliferation curves, (d) relative tumor inhibition rates, and (e) survival curves of BALB/c nude mice treated with blank hydrogels or Cu-HNCS hydrogels were presented. Data were statistically analyzed using Student’s t-test and reported as the mean ± SD (n = 7 per group). Statistical significance levels were denoted as *** p < 0.01. (f) Photographs depicting the state of 4T1 tumors after different treatments at day 28 were included. (g) H&E staining was performed to assess nuclear dissociation, Ki-67 immunofluorescence staining was used to evaluate cellular proliferation, and TUNEL staining was employed to detect necrosis of tumor cells in tumor sections (scale bars: 400 μm) (reproduced from Lu et al., 2020) [203].