The primary treatment for myocardial infarction (MI) is restoring blood flow to the obstructed coronary artery. However, this approach can paradoxically generate reactive oxygen species (ROS), leading to secondary ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury. Multifunctional nanomaterials present a promising alternative for managing IR injury, offering benefits including cost-effectiveness, robust catalytic stability, and customizable properties that surpass traditional antioxidants. This study explores single-atom Pt-doped ceria nanozymes (Pt@CeNZ) with multi-enzyme mimetic functions facilitated by atomically dispersed Pt. The nanozymes effectively eliminate excess ROS in cardiomyocytes, thereby enhancing cell viability. Notably, Pt@CeNZ demonstrates significantly higher uptake in cardiomyocytes, underscoring its potential as a targeted nanotherapeutic for cardiac tissues. In vivo studies further confirm that Pt@CeNZ treatment substantially reduces infarct size and improves cardiac function following IR injury, without inducing long-term toxicity or inflammation. These findings position Pt@CeNZ as a highly promising heart-targeting nanotherapeutic with potential applications in the acute and long-term treatment of cardiac injuries.

Read full paper online: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bioactmat.2025.07.019