Photo-responsive nanozymes: from photocatalytic mechanisms to precision therapy

Conventional nanozymes still suffer from limited catalytic efficiency and poor substrate selectivity, which impede their clinical translation. Recently, photo-responsive nanozymes have emerged as a promising platform for precision biomedicine by integrating photocatalytic processes with enzyme-mimetic catalysis, enabling spatiotemporally controlled enhancement of catalytic activity. In this review, we highlight strategies for incorporating emerging photocatalytic technologies into the rational design of nanozymes and systematically elucidate the core mechanisms by which photogenerated charge carriers and plasmonic resonance facilitate nanozyme catalytic reactions. We further summarize the biomedical applications of photo-responsive nanozymes in tumor therapy, microbial eradication, inflammation regulation, and biosensing. Finally, we analyze current challenges and future perspectives regarding biocompatibility, catalytic efficiency, and deep-tissue light penetration, thereby providing a theoretical foundation for the development and clinical translation of high-performance photo-responsive nanozymes.