Reconstituting redox active centers of heme-containing proteins with biomineralized gold toward peroxidase mimics with strong intrinsic catalysis and electrocatalysis for H2O2 detection

Recent Progress on Peroxidase Modification and Application

Peroxdiase is one of the member of oxireductase super family, which has a broad substrate range and a variety of reaction types, including hydroxylation, epoxidation or halogenation of unactivated C-H bonds, and aromatic group or biophenol compounds. Here, we summarized the recently discovered enzymes with peroxidation activity, and focused on the special structures, sites, and corresponding strategies that can change the peroxidase catalytic activity, stability, and substrate range. The comparison of the structural differences between these natural enzymes and the mimic enzymes of binding nanomaterials and polymer materials is helpful to expand the application of peroxidase in industry. In addition, we also reviewed the catalytic application of peroxidase in the synthesis of important organic molecules and the degradation of pollutants.

Enhanced chemodynamic therapy at weak acidic pH based on g-C3N4-supported hemin/Au nanoplatform and cell apoptosis monitoring during treatment

Chemodynamic therapy (CDT), inducing tumor cell apoptosis through Fenton reaction to produce hydroxyl radical (·OH), is an emerging cancer treatment technology. Highly efficient Fenton catalytic reactions usually take place at a low pH environment. Utilizing graphitic carbon nitride supported hemin and Au nanoparticles (g-C₃N₄/hemin/Au) as a novel biomimetic nanocatalyst, we achieve an enhanced CDT for inducing tumor cell apoptosis in the presence of excess H₂O₂, and reveal the molecular events during the CDT-induced apoptosis. The prepared g-C₃N₄/hemin/Au nanohybrids exhibit excellent Fenton catalytic activity for the generation of highly toxic ·OH at weak acidic and neutral condition, which breaks through the limitation of traditional acidity-dependent response. The Fenton catalytic mechanism was also studied. The Fenton efficiency is primarily enhanced by the high affinity between nanohybrids and H₂O₂, and the transformation of Fe(III) to Fe(IV)=O without the formation of iron hydrate precipitation. Moreover, the intracellular molecular events during the CDT process were monitored. Phenylalanine metabolism was perturbed with protein degradation and DNA structures were damaged, which eventually lead to cell apoptosis. This study provides a significant guidance for the further development of more effective CDT platforms.

Fabrication of polyethyleneimine-functionalized reduced graphene oxide-hemin-bovine serum albumin (PEI-rGO-hemin-BSA) nanocomposites as peroxidase mimetics for the detection of multiple metabolites

The ultrasensitive bioassays are increasingly demanded for disease diagnosis and environmental monitoring. The combined unique natures of the components in nanocomposites have led to their wide applications in bioanalysis. In the current study, a simple strategy for preparing polyethyleneimine-functionalized reduced graphene oxide-hemin-bovine serum albumin (PEI-rGO-Hemin-BSA) nanocomposites as peroxidase mimetics was demonstrated. The developed nanocomposites of PEI-rGO-Hemin-BSA showed an excellent peroxidase-like activity. Importantly, through the glutaradelhyde crosslinking, PEI-rGO-Hemin-BSA could be further simply combined with various oxidases such as glucose oxidase, cholesterol oxidase, lactate oxidase and choline oxidase for the detection and quantitative measurement of multiple metabolites including glucose, cholesterol, l-lactate, and choline. The developed detection strategy, which is sensitive, convenient, low-costed, and in tiny sample consumption, could be expected wide applications in the disease diagnosis and management of metabolite disorders.

Nanomaterials with enzyme-like characteristics (nanozymes): next-generation artificial enzymes (II)

An updated comprehensive review to help researchers understand nanozymes better and in turn to advance the field.

A near-infrared fluorescent probe for evaluating endogenous hydrogen peroxide during ischemia/reperfusion injury

A fluorescent probe, Cy-ArB, is developed for real-time monitoring of H₂O₂ fluctuations in cells and in vivo during ischemia/reperfusion processes.

In-site encapsulating gold "nanowires" into hemin-coupled protein scaffolds through biomimetic assembly towards the nanocomposites with strong catalysis, electrocatalysis, and fluorescence properties

An efficient and green biomimetic assembly protocol was developed for the fabrication of multifunctional nanocomposites by mimicking the configuration of natural protein enzymes. Bovine serum albumin (BSA) as the protein model was first split to produce the disassembled BSA (dBSA) of linear polymer and then coupled with catalytic Hemin (Hem). The yielded dBSA-Hem scaffolds were utilized to in-site encapsulate gold nanoclusters (AuNCs) through biominerization, yielding the dBSA-Hem-AuNCs. It was discovered that the nanocomposites could display the well-defined composition and spheric morphology. In particular, they could exhibit unexpectedly strong catalysis, electrocatalysis, and fluorescence properties, in which the biominerized AuNCs would act as fluorescence sources and "nanowires" for promoting the electron-transfer of the catalytic nanocomposites. Colorimetric investigations show that the developed enzyme mimics could present peroxidase-like catalysis activities comparable to natural horseradish peroxidase. In addition, they could facilitate the direct electrocatalysis for H₂O₂ at concentrations as low as 0.40 μM. Moreover, strong red fluorescence of AuNCs in nanocomposites could be expected for the fluorimetric analysis of H₂O₂ with linear concentrations ranging from 50 nM to 100 μM. Such a biomimetic assembly route may open a new door toward the preparation of diverse nanocomposites with multifunctional catalysis and fluorescence, thus promising extensive applications of catalysis and detection in the chemical, environmental, and biomedical fields.

In-vivo electrochemical monitoring of H2O2 production induced by root-inoculated endophytic bacteria in Agave tequilana leaves

A dual-function platinum disc microelectrode sensor was used for in-situ monitoring of H₂O₂ produced in A. tequilana leaves after inoculation of their endophytic bacteria (Enterobacter cloacae). Voltammetric experiments were carried out from 0.0 to -1.0V, a potential range where H₂O₂ is electrochemically reduced. A needle was used to create a small cavity in the upper epidermis of A. tequilana leaves, where the fabricated electrochemical sensor was inserted by using a manual three-dimensional micropositioner. Control experiments were performed with untreated plants and the obtained electrochemical results clearly proved the formation of H₂O₂ in the leaves of plants 3h after the E. cloacae inoculation, according to a mechanism involving endogenous signaling pathways. In order to compare the sensitivity of the microelectrode sensor, the presence of H₂O₂ was detected in the root hairs by 3,3-diaminobenzidine (DAB) stain 72h after bacterial inoculation. In-situ pH measurements were also carried out with a gold disc microelectrode modified with a film of iridium oxide and lower pH values were found in A. tequilana leaves treated with bacteria, which may indicate the plant produces acidic substances by biosynthesis of secondary metabolites. This microsensor could be an advantageous tool for further studies on the understanding of the mechanism of H₂O₂ production during the plant-endophyte interaction.

Encapsulating chromogenic reaction substrates with porous hydrogel scaffolds onto arrayed capillary tubes toward a visual and high-throughput colorimetric strategy for rapid occult blood tests

A porous hydrogel composite was used to encapsulate the chromogenic reaction substrates onto capillary tubes arrayed for visual and high-throughput occult blood test.