Nanozymes as Emerging Therapeutics for Asthma: A Redox-Responsive and Immunomodulatory Strategy

Abstract

Asthma is a chronic, etiologically diverse lung disease that contributes to worldwide morbidity and healthcare burdens. Although bronchodilators and corticosteroids remain the cornerstones of asthma treatment, their long-term use is associated with significant side effects. Furthermore, steroid resistance in severe asthma emphasizes the need for alternative therapeutic approaches. Nanotechnology has emerged as a viable alternative to these standard approaches, allowing for targeted, prolonged, and precise drug delivery. Nanozymes, or synthetic nanomaterials that imitate natural enzyme functions, are gaining popularity among nanomedicine platforms due to their redox-regulating and immunomodulatory properties. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the present landscape of nanozyme-based treatments for asthma, with a focus on carbon-based nanozymes, while discussing MOF-derived and single-atom nanozymes in terms of their physicochemical properties and potential applicability to airway inflammatory diseases. Moreover, we look at current advancements in nanozyme-enabled drug delivery systems, their biocompatibility profiles, and potential strategies for designing nanozyme therapies according to asthma endotypes. These findings establish nanozymes as a transformational and therapeutically promising platform for next-generation asthma treatment.