Can nanozymes make the leap to the clinic? Advances, hurdles, and prospects

Nanozymes (enzyme-like catalytic nanomaterials) represent a new generation of artificial enzymes designed to overcome key limitations of their natural counterparts, including high production costs, low stability, and challenging storage requirements. Their versatility spans biosensing, bioimaging, therapeutics, and environmental remediation, attracting widespread interest across disciplines. Recent advances have moved nanozymes beyond benchtop proof of concept, with multiple in vivo studies and early clinical investigations demonstrating their translational potential. However, progress toward the clinic remains constrained by limited mechanistic understanding under physiologically relevant conditions; concerns over safety, biodegradability, and long-term efficacy; and uncertainties in scalable manufacturing, market feasibility, and regulatory approval. This review highlights recent breakthroughs in biomedical nanozymes and identifies key knowledge gaps that must be addressed to accelerate successful clinical translation and commercialization.