• nanozymes and cancer therapy
  • Fahiemeh Bahramnejad,1 Dorna Dehghani,2 Mojtaba Mortazavi,3,*
    1. Department of Biotechnology, Institute of Science and High Technology and Environmental Sciences, Graduate University of Advanced Technology, Kerman, Iran
    2. Department of Biotechnology, Institute of Science and High Technology and Environmental Sciences, Graduate University of Advanced Technology, Kerman, Iran
    3. Department of Biotechnology, Institute of Science and High Technology and Environmental Sciences, Graduate University of Advanced Technology, Kerman, Iran


  • Introduction: Nanozymes are nanomaterials that have inherent catalytic activity. They are a suitable alternative to enzymes due to their advantages such as high stability, cost-effectiveness, and easy preparation. For the first time in 2007, scientists discovered the peroxidase-like activity of Fe3o4, which led to the identification of other nanomaterials with enzyme-like properties. To date, many nanomaterials are known that have been determined to possess peroxidase-like, catalase-like, oxidase-like, and SOD-like activity. These artificial enzymes have been extensively investigated for diverse applications such as diagnostic medicine, cytoprotection, environmental treatment, antibacterial property, cancer therapy, and so on. In this study, we briefly report the role of nanozymes in the treatment of cancer. Reactive oxygen species contain high reactivity ions and free radicals such as superoxide, hydroxyl radical, and singlet oxygen that are involved in the apoptosis of malignant neoplasms or in a word can damage cancer cells.
  • Methods: For example, GO-silicon-folic acid@AuNPs hybrid with peroxidase-like activity was able to create therapeutic activity by increasing free radical OH and toxicity in Hela cells. It is important to note that this nanozyme does not have cytotoxic properties on healthy cells. Or in another survey, MnO2@PtCo nanoflowers that PtCo has intrinsic oxidase activity and MnO2 functions as a catalase-like activity are able to cause cell apoptosis Through reactive oxygen species that eventually cause cancer cells damage.
  • Results: Eventually, and Following the same trend, we think nanozymes will be one of the most important options for cancer treatment in the future.
  • Conclusion: Artificial enzymes, nanozymes, can provide a new avenue in cancer therapy Through its effect on reactive oxygen species, which causes apoptosis through the signaling pathway and etc, As a result, the cancer cells are damaged.
  • Keywords: Nanozyme, cancer therapy, ROS