Stabilizing bienzymatic cascade catalysis via immobilization in ZIF-8/GO composites obtained by GO assisted co-growth

A wearable AuNP enhanced metal-organic gel (Au@MOG) sensor for sweat glucose detection with ultrahigh sensitivity

The demand for sensitive and non-invasive sensors for monitoring glucose levels in sweat has grown considerably in recent years. This study presents the development of a wearable sensor for sweat glucose detection with ultrahigh sensitivity. The sensor was fabricated by embedding Au nanoparticles (AuNPs) and metal-organic gels (MOGs) on nickel foam (NF). A non-enzymatic electrocatalytic glucose sensor has been developed to combine the three-dimensional network of MOGs with more active sites favourable for glucose diffusion and the transfer of electrons from glucose to the electrode. These results show that the sensor has an ultrahigh sensitivity of 13.94 mA mM-1 cm-2, a linear detection range between 2 and 600 μM, and a lower detection limit as low as 1 μM (signal/noise = 3) with comparable accuracy and reliability under non-alkaline conditions to those of high-pressure ion chromatography (HPIC). Furthermore, a wearable sweat glucose sensor has been constructed by sputtering an Au conductive layer on a flexible polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) substrate and coating it with Au@MOGs. Our work demonstrates that the combination of Au NPs and MOGs can enhance the sensitivity and activity of these materials, making them useful for electrocatalytic glucose monitoring with ultrahigh sensitivity.

Construction of co-immobilized multienzyme systems using DNA-directed immobilization technology and multifunctionalized nanoparticles

The multienzyme co-immobilization systems with high cascade catalytic efficiency and selectivity have attracted considerable attention. In this study, through DNA-directed immobilization (DDI) technology, two model enzymes, glucose oxidase (GOD) and horseradish peroxide (HRP) were co-immobilized on the multifunctional silica nanoparticles (DDI enzyme). In addition to the directional distribution promoted by DNA complementary chains, the multienzyme system allowed the control of the stoichiometric ratio of the enzymes by adjusting the ratio of amino/carboxyl groups. The optimal mole ratio of GOD/HRP was 1:2, while the protein loading amount could reach 8.06 mg·g-1. Compared with the conventional direct adsorption, the catalytic activity of the DDI enzyme was 2.49 times higher. Moreover, with the enhancement of thermal and mechanical stability, the DDI enzyme could still retain at least 50% of its initial activity after 12 cycles. Accompanied by an excellent response and good selectivity, the constructed multienzyme systems simultaneously showed the potential as a glucose detector. Therefore, based on the DDI technology, the highly efficient multienzyme co-immobilization system could be further extended for a wider range of research fields.

Synthesis of L-aspartic acid-based bimetallic hybrid nanoflowers to immobilize snailase for the production of rare ginsenoside compound K

The conversion of the common ginsenoside Rb1 to the rare ginsenoside compound K (CK) using snailase (Sna) is an efficient method for industrial production. In order to improve the stability and recoverability of Sna during the catalytic conversion of ginsenosides, the cage-like immobilised Sna material ZIF-ZnCo-Sna and the hybrid nanoflower-based immobilised Sna material Asp@ZIF-ZnCo-Sna modified with L-aspartic acid (Asp) were synthesised using a one-step method. The addition of Asp provides a richer ligand pattern and the morphology of the material changed from a cage to a hybrid nanoflower. The modified hybrid nanoflower Asp@ZIF-ZnCo-Sna has a larger specific surface area, resulting in an enzyme loading of 142.57 mg g^-1. The more abundant mesopores allowed the enzyme to maintain a good conformation and the enzyme activity was 79.8% of that of the free Sna. In addition, the total conversion rate of Asp@ZIF-ZnCo-Sna to ginsenoside Rb1 was as high as 88.35%, whereas that of ZIF-ZnCo-Sna was 79.12%. Moreover, after 6 cycles, the catalytic conversion of ZIF-ZnCo-Sna and Asp@ZIF-ZnCo-Sna and the crystalline shape remained the same, indicating that both composites have good stability and catalytic properties. This new approach of improving the MOF morphology and enzymatic activity by a one-step addition of small biological molecules provides a simple, rapid, and effective strategy for biocatalysis. It also provides a certain reference value for the immobilized Sna to produce rare ginsenoside CK.

Advances in the One-Step Approach of Polymeric Materials Using Enzymatic Techniques

The formulation in which biochemical enzymes are administered in polymer science plays a key role in retaining their catalytic activity. The one-step synthesis of polymers with highly sequence-controlled enzymes is a strategy employed to provide enzymes with higher catalytic activity and thermostability in material sustainability. Enzyme-catalyzed chain growth polymerization reactions using activated monomers, protein-polymer complexation techniques, covalent and non-covalent interaction, and electrostatic interactions can provide means to develop formulations that maintain the stability of the enzyme during complex material processes. Multifarious applications of catalytic enzymes are usually attributed to their efficiency, pH, and temperature, thus, progressing with a critical structure-controlled synthesis of polymer materials. Due to the obvious economics of manufacturing and environmental sustainability, the green synthesis of enzyme-catalyzed materials has attracted significant interest. Several enzymes from microorganisms and plants via enzyme-mediated material synthesis have provided a viable alternative for the appropriate synthesis of polymers, effectively utilizing the one-step approach. This review analyzes more and deeper strategies and material technologies widely used in multi-enzyme cascade platforms for engineering polymer materials, as well as their potential industrial applications, to provide an update on current trends and gaps in the one-step synthesis of materials using catalytic enzymes.