Catalytic activity of acetylcholinesterase immobilized on mesoporous molecular sieves

Highly active enzymes immobilized in large pore colloidal mesoporous silica nanoparticles

Carbonic anhydrase and horseradish peroxidase are immobilized inside the ordered material by click reactions. Colorimetric assays prove their catalytic activity.

Proteins in mesoporous silicates

Mesoporous silicates (MPS) have an ordered pore structure with dimensions comparable to many biological molecules. They have been extensively explored as supports for proteins and enzymes in biocatalytic applications. Since their initial discovery, novel syntheses methods have led to precise control over pore size and structure, particle size, chemical composition, and stability, thus allowing the adsorption of a wide variety of biological macromolecules, such as heme proteins, lipases, antibody fragments, and proteases, into their structures. This Review discusses the application of ordered, large-pore, functionalized mesoporous silicates to immobilize proteins for biocatalysis.