Microenvironmental modulation breaks intrinsic pH limitations of nanozymes to boost their activities.

ABSTRACT: Functional nanomaterials with enzyme-mimicking activities, termed as nanozymes, have found wide applications in various fields. However, the deviation between the working and optimal pHs of nanozymes has been limiting their practical applications. Here we develop a strategy to modulate the microenvironmental pHs of metal-organic framework (MOF) nanozymes by confining polyacids or polybases (serving as Brønsted acids or bases). The confinement of poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) into the channels of peroxidase-mimicking PCN-222-Fe (PCN = porous coordination network) nanozyme lowers its microenvironmental pH, enabling it to perform its best activity at pH 7.4 and to solve pH mismatch in cascade systems coupled with acid-denatured oxidases. Experimental investigations and molecular dynamics simulatio

SUBMITTER: Li T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11686145 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature