纳米酶

Nanozymes

纳米酶(Nanozymes)是由我国科学家首次提出的新概念,它是一类具有生物催化功能的纳米材料,能够基于特定的纳米结构催化天然酶的底物并作为酶的代替品。自2007年首次报道以来,全球已有来自于55个国家的420多个研究机构证实了纳米酶的普遍规律。纳米酶的发现第一次揭示纳米材料蕴含一种独特的纳米效应———类酶催化效应。纳米酶作为一种新材料,既有纳米材料本身的理化性质,又有类似酶的催化功能,兼具天然酶与人工酶的优势于一身。其中,纳米结构不仅赋予纳米酶高效催化功能,而且使纳米酶比天然酶稳定,易于规模化生产。另外,纳米酶独特的多酶活性将为设计廉价、稳定、各种各样全新的催化级联反应提供功能分子。纳米酶是多学科交叉融合的典范,2022年被IUPAC评为十大化学新兴技术。在全球从事化学、酶学、材料学、生物学、医学、理论计算等多领域科学家的共同推进下,如今纳米酶已经成为新的研究热点。我国科学家在这一新兴领域一直发挥着引领作用,解析了纳米酶的构⁃效关系,将其催化活性提高了约1万倍,实现了超越天然酶的理性设计,创造了全球首个纳米酶产品,出版了纳米酶学英文专著,发布纳米酶术语及中国/国际标准化。更可喜的是,纳米酶新领域汇集了一大批多学科交叉融合的优秀青年科学家,推动纳米酶进入高速发展阶段,纳米酶的种类已经超过1200多种,其催化机制研究也更加深入,应用研究也从当初的检测逐步拓展到纳米酶催化医学、传感检测、绿色合成、新能源、环境治理等多个领域。本文向读者介绍纳米酶自发现以来的主要进展,包括最近发现的天然纳米酶,期待纳米酶从新概念、新材料衍生出新技术、新产品、新商品,服务人类健康,并带动新学科发展。

Nanozymes,a new concept first proposed by Chinese scientists,is a class of nanomaterials with biocatalytic functions.Owing to their nanostructures,nanozymes can catalyze the substrates of natural enzymes and serve as enzyme substitutes.Since the first report in 2007,over 420 research groups from 55 countries have validated this phenomenon.The discovery of nanozymes demonstrates for the first time that nanomaterials may have a unique biological effect⁃enzyme⁃like catalytic activity.As a new material,nanozyme has both the physicochemical properties of nanomaterials and catalytic function similar to those of natural enzymes,with the benefits of both.Its nanostructure not only endows nanozymes with extremely effective catalytic activity but also renders them more stable and easier to mass production.The study of nanozymes is an example of interdisciplinary cooperation,being named as one of the 2022 top ten chemical emerging technologies by IUPAC.Nanozymes have become an emerging research focus due to the collaboration of experts from diverse fields worldwide such as chemistry,enzymology,materials science,biology,medicine,and theoretical calculations.Chinese scientists lead the way in this emerging field,investigating the structure⁃effect relationship of nanozymes,increasing their catalytic activity by 10000 times,realizing rational design even surpassing natural enzymes,and developing the world’s first nanozyme products,as well as publishing books on nanozyme science,releasing nanozyme terminology,and establishing Chinese/international standardization.Furthermore,the new field of nanozymes has attracted a substantial number of talented young multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary scientists who are driving its strong growth by discovering more than 1200 types of nanozymes and uncovering their catalytic mechanisms.It has also evolved from the initial application in detection to nanozyme catalysis medicine,sensor detection,green synthesis,new energy,environmental protection,and many other.This article provides readers with an overview of the significant advances in nanozyme research since its discovery,including newly identified natural nanozymes.Ultimately,our goal is to see nanozymes improve human health and inspire the growth of a new field of study as they go from an idea to new materials,to technology and to products.