News: Researchers at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc.) have developed an artificial metal-based nanozyme that can potentially be used to clamp down on abnormal blood clotting caused by conditions like pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE). Nanozyme
About Nanozyme
- A nanozyme is a nanomaterial that exhibits enzyme-like catalytic activity, meaning it can mimic the functions of natural enzymes in facilitating biochemical reactions.
- They mimic the activity of natural antioxidant enzymes, which scavenge reactive oxidative molecules.
- Nanozymes can be made from a variety of materials, including metals, metal oxides, carbon-based materials, and metal-organic frameworks.
- Significance: These nanozymes developed by IISc. can be very efficiently used to clamp down on abnormal blood clotting caused by conditions like pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE).
- Working: These nanozymes work by controlling Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) levels, thereby preventing the over-activation of platelets that leads to excess clot formation or thrombosis.
- Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) levels refer to the amount of oxygen-containing molecules in a cell that are highly reactive and can damage biological molecules.
- Material used: The spherical-shaped vanadium pentoxide (V2O5) nanozymes were the most efficient.
- These materials mimic a natural antioxidant enzyme called glutathione peroxidase to reduce oxidative stress.
- Applications– Nanozymes have a large range of applications for diagnostic medicine, targeted therapy, and biosensing.
