Journal of Shanghai Jiao Tong University (Medical Science) ›› 2022, Vol. 42 ›› Issue (12): 1751-1756.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1674-8115.2022.12.014

• Review • Previous Articles    

Research advances in biomedical applications of single-atom catalysts

XIE Yuting(), XIONG Ping()   

  1. Department of Ultrasound, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200011, China
  • Received:2022-06-27 Accepted:2022-11-28 Online:2022-12-28 Published:2022-12-28
  • Contact: XIONG Ping E-mail:xieyuting0920@163.com;xiong_ping_xp@163.com
  • Supported by:
    National Natural Science Foundation of China(81971618)

Abstract:

With the rapid advances in nanotechnology and materials science, lots of nanomaterials designed and modified according to the pathophysiological and chemical properties of the disease microenvironment have been proven to achieve effective therapeutic effects by triggering in situ catalytic reactions through specific stimuli. However, in response to the structural complexity and potential metal ion toxicity of current catalysts for nanomedical applications, researchers have worked to develop and improve the synthesis of nanocatalysts which are significantly more effective, more controllable and less toxic. In recent years, single-atom catalysts (SACs) show great potential for therapeutic applications as atomically dispersed metal active sites, anchored or coordinated on suitable carriers with excellent catalytic activity and high selectivity. This review provides an outline of the progress in development of SACs for biomedical applications, focusing on recent advances in applications encompassing antimicrobial, cancer therapy, oxidative-stress cytoprotection and biosensing, and revealing the catalytic triggering mechanisms of SACs for different disease applications by citing a series of successfully established representative examples and understanding the structure-property relationships. Finally, current challenges and future perspectives for the engineering of SACs in noncatalytic medicine are also discussed and outlooked.

Key words: single-atom catalysts, biomedical application, enzyme-like reaction, nanomedicine, biocatalytic mechanism

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