Antioxidant nanozymes for regenerative medicine: mechanisms, design, and applications in tissue repair

Abstract

Natural antioxidant enzymes play a central role in regulating oxidative stress within living organisms. During tissue repair following injury, these enzymes act synergistically to scavenge excess reactive oxygen species and maintain cellular redox homeostasis, thereby supporting cell proliferation and differentiation, resolving inflammation, and facilitating extracellular matrix remodeling. Inspired by the catalytic properties and regulatory mechanisms of natural antioxidant enzyme systems, antioxidant nanozymes are artificial catalytic nanomaterials that mimic the activity of natural antioxidant enzymes and have emerged as a promising platform to overcome the limitations of natural enzymes and promote tissue regeneration. This review systematically summarizes the classification and catalytic mechanisms of antioxidant nanozymes, along with mechanism-guided design strategies. We further highlight recent advances in their application in regenerative medicine, including skin wound healing, cardiovascular repair, cartilage regeneration, neural tissue repair, bone tissue regeneration, and ocular repair. Finally, the challenges and future prospects of antioxidant nanozymes in regenerative medicine are discussed.