Nanozymes for Treating Viral Infections and Cancer

Targeted Treatment Effectively Destroys Diseases and Malignancies

These nanozymes reach targeted sites of infection or abnormal cell growth to deliver drugs that treat cancers and viral infections. According to the American Cancer Society, half of men and a third of women develop cancer during their lives. Similarly, viruses such as influenza, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C are widespread and life-threatening. These create a strong demand for effective anticancer and antiviral treatments. Although enzymes have major potential applications in the treatment of cancer and viral infections, available enzymes suffer from many limitations such as target specificity and inhibitor presence.

Researchers at the University of Florida have developed nanozymes that combine nanoparticles, enzymes, and moieties into a therapeutic enzyme platform for anticancer and antiviral therapies. These nanozymes can also deliver and release drugs to sites of infection or abnormal cell growth, allowing medical scientists to specifically target and destroy many diseases and malignancies.

Application

A nanoparticle with enzyme functionality that improves enzymatic treatment for cancers and viral infections

Advantages

• Administers drugs through different routes (intravenous, topical, etc.), permitting flexible treatment to different areas of the body
• Includes certain moieties that protect the enzymes and drugs from degradation, increasing their effectiveness against cancers and viruses
• Directly targets treatment to infection sites, mitigating damage to healthy body tissue and minimizing side effects
• Supports nanozyme tracking by incorporating imaging agents, allowing healthcare providers to observe treatments in real-time

Technology

These nanozymes (nanoparticle enzymes) have three main components: nanoparticles, enzymes, and moieties, and each performs a specific biotechnological function. The nanoparticles provide a stable base on which the other components attach, and the enzymes (and drugs, if desired) destroy malignant or infected cells. The nanozymes also employ three different moieties: recognition groups, protection groups, and cell-entry groups. The recognition component guides the enzymes toward specific DNA strands, RNA strands, and proteins of interest. The protection component prevents the enzymes from degrading before reaching their target. Finally, the cell-entry component enables the enzymes to gain access into specific organs, cell types, sub-cellular organelles, and nuclei.