Aptamer-modified atomically precise gold nanoclusters as targeted nanozymes to scavenge reactive oxygen species in white adipocytes.

Excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS)-caused oxidative stress leads to the dysfunction of white adipocytes and white fat, and also promotes triglyceride storage by inhibiting the respiration of adipocytes directly. Nanozymes, as a new generation of artificial enzymes, have exhibited attractive potential in scavenging ROS and treatment of ROS-related diseases. Herein, aptamer-modified atomically precise gold nanoclusters Au25 (Apt-Au25 NCs) are employed as targeted nanozymes to scavenge ROS in white adipocytes. Our results show that Apt-Au25 NCs have high targeting capability toward white adipocytes with low cytotoxicity. Furthermore, Apt-Au25 NCs show high superoxide dismutase (SOD)-like and catalase (CAT)-like activity in a concentration-dependent manner, and also good thermal and pH stability compared with natural SOD and CAT. Finally, the efficiency of ROS-scavenging by Apt-Au25 NCs in white adipocytes is evaluated. This work demonstrates that Apt-Au25 NCs, as targeted nanozymes, are efficient in scavenging ROS in white adipocytes, exhibiting promising potential in treatment of obesity and related diseases.