Nanozymes in the Treatment of Pediatric Inflammatory Diseases: Opportunities and Challenges

Pediatric inflammatory diseases, such as neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), and asthma, pose numerous challenges in clinical treatment due to their complex pathogenesis and the still-developing stage of children’s immune systems. These challenges include poor precision, strong toxic and side effects, and unclear long-term biological safety. In recent years, the development of nanozymes has provided new opportunities to address these issues. This review systematically summarizes the latest research progress of nanozymes in the diagnosis and treatment of pediatric inflammatory diseases. Firstly, we focus on the rational design principles of nanozymes tailored to the physiological characteristics of children, including the regulation of their catalytic activity and strategies for optimizing biocompatibility. Subsequently, we deeply analyze the core roles of these antioxidant nanozymes in breaking the vicious cycle of oxidative stress and reshaping the inflammatory microenvironment through multiple mechanisms, such as scavenging reactive oxygen species (ROS), regulating macrophage polarization, and inhibiting the pro-inflammatory protein (NLRP3 inflammasome). Moreover, we detail the successful applications of nanozymes in various typical pediatric inflammatory disease models and emphasize their potential as a multifunctional theranostic platform in achieving synergistic antioxidant, antibacterial, and targeted drug delivery. Finally, this article prospectively discusses the key challenges that nanozymes must address in the process of clinical translation for children, including long-term biological safety, precise dose control, and individualized drug delivery, and looks forward to the development of intelligent responsive and biodegradable nanozymes. This review aims to provide theoretical basis and reference ideas for the in-depth exploration and clinical application of nanozymes as innovative nanomedicines in the field of pediatric precision medicine in the future.