Although the term nanozymes was coined by us in 2004 to highlight the enzyme-like properties of gold nanoparticles passivated with a monolayer of Zn(II)-complexes in the cleavage of phosphate diesters, systems resembling those metallo-nanoparticles, like micelles and vesicles, have been the subject of investigation since the mid-eighties of the last century. This paper reviews what has been done in the field and compares the different nanosystems highlighting the source of catalysis and frequent misconceptions found in the literature.
Keywords: Cu(II); Zn(II); aggregation colloids; carboxylate cleavage; gold nanoparticles; hydrolysis; micelles; phosphate cleavage; vesicles.