Multifunctional nanozyme platforms in central nervous system therapies: from rational design to translational medicine.

Abstract

Central nervous system (CNS) disorders-including ischemic stroke, traumatic brain/spinal cord injury, Parkinson's disease, and Alzheimer's disease-have long faced limitations in achieving functional recovery and disease-modifying therapies because of their complex pathophysiological mechanisms. Traditional therapies are often constrained by poor penetration across CNS barriers, limited participation in multiple pathological cascades, and insufficient persistence of therapeutic effects. Nanozymes are a class of nanomaterials with enzyme-like catalytic activity and tunable physicochemical properties. Not only do these nanozymes continuously scavenge reactive oxygen and nitrogen species in pathological environments through stable multi-enzyme synergistic effects by leveraging their abundant active sites, but also serve as multimodal therapeutic delivery platforms to achieve efficient drug delivery, opening up new avenues for neuroprotection and regenerative medicine. This review systematically examines the fundamental characteristics, classification systems, and functional design approaches of nanozymes, along with their potential for combined therapeutic strategies, including synergistic applications with drugs, hydrogels, genes, or cells. Additionally, it summarizes the latest advancements in neuroprotection and repair associated with CNS disorders. The review further analyzes current limitations and challenges related to clinical translation and offers insights into future research directions to enhance scientific knowledge and clinical applications in this significant field.