High-Performance Nanozyme Designer

Winner: 2023 Dalton Horizon Prize

For the development of rational design strategies for high performance nanozymes and exploration of their biomedical applications.

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The study of nanozymes embodies a remarkable blend of multiple disciplines. Luckily, our team consists of proficient specialists in chemistry, material science, medicine, and computing science, both on-campus and off-campus. Together, we navigate through various challenges on our journey, pushing the boundaries of knowledge and unravelling the influential factors that govern the catalytic activity of nanozymes.

The High-Performance Nanozyme Designer team from Nanjing University have worked with collaborators from various universities across China to provide more efficient strategies to design high-performance nanozymes.

Nanozymes are artificial catalytic nanomaterials which exhibit behaviour and characteristics similar to enzymes. High-performance nanozymes have numerous potential applications in the biomedical field, such as for the treatment of cancer and inflammation, as well as in wearable devices.

The interdisciplinary team in China were able to demonstrate the superior properties of the designed nanozymes compared to natural enzymes, furthering our understanding of what factors control the catalytic activity of nanozymes.

The team

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Christopher J. Butch, Associate Professor, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Nanjing University
Wen Cao, MS Student College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Nanjing University
Yuan Cheng, Research Scientist, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Nanjing University
Ran Cui, Associate Professor, College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, Wuhan University
Lei Du, PhD Student, College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, Wuhan University
Yan Du, Research Fellow, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Department of Chemistry, University of Science and Technology of China
Xingfa Gao, Professor, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Xuejiao J. Gao, Associate Professor, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Jiangxi Normal University
Bo Jiang, PhD Student, Department of Urology, Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Institute of Urology, Nanjing University
Zhong Jin, Professor, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University
Sirong Li, PhD Student, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Nanjing University
Shichao Lin, PhD Student, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Nanjing University
Ying-Wu Lin, Professor, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, University of South China
Quanyi Liu, PhD Student, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Department of Chemistry, University of Science and Technology of China
Wei Liu, Associate Professor, School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University
Yufeng Liu, Postdoctoral researcher, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Nanjing University
Leiying Miao, Associate Professor, Department of Cariology and Endodontics, Nanjing Stomatological Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University
Li Qin, MS Student, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Nanjing University
Li Song, Professor CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, University of Science and Technology of China
Zuoxiu Tie, Biomedical Engineering Laboratory Technician, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Nanjing University
Cuihong Wan, Professor, School of Life Sciences, Central China Normal University
Bing Wang, Postdoctoral researcher, School of Life Sciences, Central China Normal University
Changda Wang, Associate Research Scientist, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, University of Science and Technology of China
Kang Wang, Professor, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University
Peng Wang, Professor, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Nanjing University
Quan Wang, PhD Student, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Nanjing University
Xiaoyu Wang, Postdoctoral researcher, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Nanjing University
Chuan-Wan Wei, Lecturer, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, University of South China
Hui Wei, Professor, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Nanjing University
Meng Ye, MS Student, School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University
Yijun Yu, PhD Student, Department of Cariology and Endodontics, Nanjing Stomatological Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing University
He Zhang, PhD Student, Department of Periodontology, Nanjing Stomatological Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing University
Huigang Zhang, Professor, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Nanjing University
Shuo Zhang, PhD Student, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Nanjing University
Yihong Zhang, PhD Student, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Nanjing University
Sheng Zhao, PhD Student, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Nanjing University
Xiaozhi Zhao, Associate Professor, Department of Urology, Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Institute of Urology, Nanjing University
Liqi Zhou, PhD Student, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Nanjing University
Min Zhou, PhD Student, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Nanjing University
Yong-Ning Zhou, Professor, Department of Materials Science, Fudan University
Zijun Zhou, MS Student, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Nanjing University
Guoyin Zhu, Professor, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University

Q&A

What were the biggest challenges in this project?

Zijun Zhou: (1) Data mining on amounts of papers; (2) Hydrolase-like activities comparison of various materials and conditions screening; (3) Hydrolase-like activity mechanisms study; (4) Preliminary exploration for anti-biofilms experiments.

Why is this work so important and exciting?

Xiaoyu Wang: Nanozymes still suffer from moderate catalytic activities when they are employed for biomedical applications. To solve this, we developed rational methodologies to design high-performance nanozymes, including a volcano-shaped curve relationship for peroxidase-like nanozymes, the data-informed discovery of hydrolytic nanozymes, and a confined cascade nanozyme system to eliminate reactive oxygen species.

Where do you see the biggest impact of this technology/research being?

Xuejiao Gao: The biggest impact of nanozymes is likely to be in the biomedical field, where they have the potential to revolutionise disease diagnosis and treatment. However, their applications in environmental remediation and sensing also hold significant promise for addressing some of the world's most pressing problems.

How will this work be used in real life applications?

Xiaoyu Wang: As alternatives to natural enzymes, these as-developed high-performance nanozymes can be used for anti-cancer and anti-inflammation therapy, as well as wearable sensing devices. To be translated into clinical applications, systematic evaluation should be performed on therapeutic effect, biocompatibility, toxicity, circulation time in vivo, etc.

How do you see this work developing over the next few years, and what is next for this technology/research?

Xiaoyu Wang: Through using statistical learning to analyse nanozyme experiment data, machine learning could help identify activity descriptors to rationalise and predict high performance nanozymes.

Additionally, high-throughput experimentation may be developed to validate the catalytic activity of candidate nanozymes. The high-throughput experimentation data should be used to refine the model and tune parameters for the next cycle of machine learning. A closed-loop machine learning-driven high-throughput experimentation method needs to be constructed to fast-track nanozyme discovery.

Why is chemistry important?

Yufeng Liu: Chemistry enables us to understand the properties, behaviour and interactions of matter in our world. It explains why materials have certain properties, how reactions occur and how matter can be manipulated like magic to create new materials and technologies.

What advice would you give to a young person considering a career in chemistry?

Yufeng Liu: Try to communicate with professionals in the field of chemistry, seek experience or advice, and adopt valuable insights to advance your research career.