Bioinspired mineralization of ultra-small ceria on cellulose nanofiber enables biocompatible and efficient nanozyme

Abstract

The escalating threat of antibiotic-resistant bacteria necessitates the exploration of alternative therapeutic strategies. Mimicking natural enzymes with artificial nanomaterials to release reactive oxygen species offers an attractive approach but is still challenged by limited catalytic activity, high production costs, and compromised biocompatibility. This work develops a bioinspired mineralization strategy for immobilizing high-density and ultra-small ceria nanoparticles onto cellulose nanofibers. The high surface-to-volume ratio of as-prepared nanoceria coupled with the aqueous processing environment facilitates the incorporation of a high Ce³⁺ content, significantly enhancing the peroxidase-like activity. The resulting ceria nanozyme demonstrates efficient antibacterial activity with negligible cytotoxicity. The utilization of bio-based resources and a sustainable mineralization procedure allows for the cost-effective, facile preparation of eco-friendly nanozyme products under mild conditions. This study presents a promising strategy for the rational design and large-scale fabrication of high-performance and low-cost bio-based catalysts applicable to diverse targeted catalytic applications.