Oxidative stress plays a critical role in the onset and progression of neurodegenerative diseases. Traditional methods for regulating oxidative stress using drugs or enzyme molecules often face limitations in efficacy, potential side effects, and the ability to fully meet clinical needs. The emergence of nanozymes offers a novel approach to overcome these challenges and explore therapeutic mechanisms. Focusing on the interaction between reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the nervous system, this article reviews the latest advancements in the use of nanozymes for treating neurodegenerative diseases. First, the mechanism of ROS interaction with neurons and glial cells in the complex nervous network is summarized by analyzing the characteristics of ROS. Second, the application examples and mechanism exploration of different types of ROS-related nanozymes in many neurodegenerative diseases are introduced and summarized. Additionally, the current situation and future prospects of nanozymes combined with advanced technologies such as in vitro detection and artificial intelligence for disease treatment are further discussed. This approach is poised to significantly advance the development of therapies for neurodegenerative diseases.

Cuproptosis, a newly discovered copper-dependent mode of cell death, has received extensive attention in the field of cancer therapy due to its specific activation pathway. Rapid accumulation of large amounts of copper ions within the cancer cells to achieve copper overload is the key to activating cuproptosis. Advanced nanotechnology offers considerable promise for delivering ions to cancer cells, in which copper-based nanomaterials have been proposed to evoke cuproptosis-mediated cancer therapy. However, it is still a great challenge to induce copper overload specifically in tumors and efficiently activate subsequent cuproptosis-related molecular pathways. Therefore, it is necessary to summarize the strategies used to effectively activate or amplify cuproptosis based on currently developed copper-based nanomaterials, providing ideas for the design of nanomaterials in the future. In this review, copper-based nanomaterials that can be used to activate cuproptosis are systematically classified for nanomaterials selection. Subsequently, cuproptosis sensitization strategies using copper-based nanomaterials are provided to amplify the therapeutic efficiency. Meanwhile, cuproptosis-related combination therapies for maximizing treatment efficacy are delineated. Ultimately, the remaining challenges and feasible future directions in the use of cuproptosis for tumor therapy based on copper-based nanomaterials are also discussed.

Organic afterglow luminescent probes (OALPs), characterized by their long-lasting luminescence after irradiation (by light, ultrasound, or X-rays) cessation, are pivotal tools in autofluorescence-free optical imaging. They exhibit ultra-low background noise interference, enhancing imaging sensitivity and ensuring clearer, more reliable imaging results. Moreover, they offer deeper tissue penetration compared to traditional optical imaging modalities, providing various information from deep tissues. Recently developed sonoafterglow and radioafterglow further enhance tissue penetration depth. This review outlines 2 design approaches for OALPs: coencapsulation and conjugation, which are derived from their luminescent mechanism. Guided by these strategies, researchers have designed 3 types of OALPs: near-infrared OALPs, responsive OALPs, and ratiometric OALPs. Additionally, we also provided examples of how OALPs are integrated with therapy and applied in the field of cancer theranostics. Finally, we discuss certain challenges encountered in the advancement of the next generation of OALPs, aiming to broaden their scope of applications.