Mechanism of ROS scavenging and antioxidant signalling by redox metallic and fullerene nanomaterials: Potential implications in ROS associated degenerative disorders

•Redox active NMs provide large surface-to-volume ratio for redox reactions to occur.•ROS scavenging NMs can be broadly divided into metallic and fullerene.•These redox active NMs have been found to protect several in vitro and in vivo models against oxidative damage.•Mechanisms of ROS scavenging and antioxidant signalling of metallic and fullerene NMs are discussed.