Biodegradation of malachite green by a novel laccase-mimicking multicopper BSA-Cu complex: Performance optimization, intermediates identification and artificial neural network modeling

Design and application of histidine-functionalized ZnCr-LDH nanozyme for promoting bacteria-infected wound healing

Excessive use of antibiotics can lead to an increase in antibiotic-resistant bacteria, which makes it a serious health threat. Therefore, developing new materials with antibacterial activity, such as nanozymes, has gained considerable attention. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced by nanozymes have rapid and effective antibacterial efficacy. Here, histidine (His) modified ZnCr layered double hydroxide (LDH) was synthesized inspired by the natural enzyme, and the enzyme-like activity of His/ZnCr-LDH was tested using a colorimetric method. Then, we developed an acid-enhanced antibacterial method based on the high peroxidase-like activity of His/ZnCr-LDH, and its ROS-generating capability in the presence of glucose oxidase (GOx) and glucose (Glu) as a source of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). Gluconic acid (GA), the main product of the GOx reaction, provides an acidic environment and promotes ROS generation. The mentioned strategy shows high antibacterial activity at a low minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) which represents the potential of His/ZnCr-LDH for effective bacterial elimination (3.5 μg mL-1 for S. aureus and 6 μg mL-1 for E. coli). In addition, animal experiments illustrated that the His/ZnCr-LDH can successfully boost the curing of infected wounds. The outcomes indicate that amino acid modified LDHs offer a new strategy for effective bacterial removal in different medical applications.

Proficient sonophotocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants using Co3O4/TiO2 nanocomposite immobilized on zeolite: Optimization, and artificial neural network modeling

The health of all living organisms is greatly influenced by the quality of the water. Therefore, developing cost-effective, eco-friendly, and easily accessible methods is desperately needed to meet the high global demand for clean water. Recently, nanozyme-based dye degradation methods have been promising for the remediation of water pollution. In this work, peroxidase-mimic Co3O4/TiO2 nanocomposite was synthesized and characterized for its size, morphology, and crystalline structure. Colorimetric assay results showed that the peroxidase-like activity of the Co3O4/TiO2 nanocomposite was considerably enhanced compared to the pure Co3O4 NPs and TiO2 NPs. Besides excellent enzyme-mimic activity, the higher sonophotocatalytic dye degradation capability of the nanocomposite after immobilization on zeolite (Co3O4/TiO2@Ze) was also demonstrated. Under optimal conditions (pH = 5.0, 25 °C), 0.1 g/L of catalyst was able to degrade 100 % of methylene blue (MB) with 600 μM in the presence of 30 μM H2O2 within 12 min. GC/MS analysis and toxicity studies revealed less toxic metabolite production after treatment of MB with sonophotocatalytic Co3O4/TiO2@Ze. Modeling of MB degradation using artificial neural networks (ANN) with a 5:6:1 topology was successfully performed, and the results confirmed the fitness of theoretical and experimental outputs according to the calculated correlation coefficient values. The prepared nanocomposite could thus be used as a promising and highly effective catalyst for the removal of organic dyes from polluted water.

Recent Development of Copper-Based Nanozymes for Biomedical Applications

Copper (Cu), an indispensable trace element within the human body, serving as an intrinsic constituent of numerous natural enzymes, carrying out vital biological functions. Furthermore, nanomaterials exhibiting enzyme-mimicking properties, commonly known as nanozymes, possess distinct advantages over their natural enzyme counterparts, including cost-effectiveness, enhanced stability, and adjustable performance. These advantageous attributes have captivated the attention of researchers, inspiring them to devise various Cu-based nanomaterials, such as copper oxide, Cu metal-organic framework, and CuS, and explore their potential in enzymatic catalysis. This comprehensive review encapsulates the most recent advancements in Cu-based nanozymes, illuminating their applications in the realm of biochemistry. Initially, it is delved into the emulation of typical enzyme types achieved by Cu-based nanomaterials. Subsequently, the latest breakthroughs concerning Cu-based nanozymes in biochemical sensing, bacterial inhibition, cancer therapy, and neurodegenerative diseases treatment is discussed. Within this segment, it is also explored the modulation of Cu-based nanozyme activity. Finally, a visionary outlook for the future development of Cu-based nanozymes is presented.

Copper nanoparticles embedded fungal chitosan as a rational and sustainable bionanozyme with robust laccase activity for catalytic oxidation of phenolic pollutants

Despite their potential for oxidation of persistent environmental pollutants, the development of rational and sustainable laccase nanozymes with efficient catalytic performance remains a challenge. Herein, fungal-produced chitosan-copper (CsCu) is proposed as a rational and sustainable bionanozyme with intrinsic laccase activity. The CsCu nanozyme was prepared by in situ reduction of copper on chitosan extracted from Irpex sp. isolate AWK2 a native fungus, from traditional fermented foods, yielding a low molecular weight chitosan with a 70% degree of deacetylation. Characterizations of the nanozyme using SEM-EDX, XRD, and XPS confirmed the presence of a multi-oxidation state copper on the chitosan matrix which is consistent with the composition of natural laccase. The laccase memetic activity was investigated using 2,4-DP as a substrate which oxidized to form a reddish-pink color with 4-AP (λmax = 510 nm). The CsCu nanozyme showed 38% higher laccase activity than the pristine Cu NPs at pH 9, indicating enhanced activity in the presence of chitosan structure. Further, CsCu showed significant stability in harsh conditions and exhibited a lower Km (0.26 mM) which is competitive with that reported for natural laccase. Notably, the nanozyme converted 92% of different phenolic substrates in 5 h, signifying a robust performance for environmental remediation purposes.

Adenine phosphate-Cu nanozyme with multienzyme mimicking activity for efficient degrading phenolic compounds and detection of hydrogen peroxide, epinephrine and glutathione

BACKGROUND

With the development of nanotechnology, various nanomaterials with enzyme-like activity (nanozymes) have been reported. Due to their superior properties, nanozymes have shown important application potential in the fields of bioanalysis, disease detection, and environmental remediation. However, only a few nanomaterials with multi-enzyme mimicry activity have been reported. In this study, a novel multienzyme mimic was synthesized through a simple and rapid preparation protocol by coordinating copper ions with N3, N6 (amino), N7, and N9 on adenine phosphate.

RESULTS

The prepared adenine phosphate-Cu complex exhibits significant peroxidase, laccase, and oxidase mimicking activities. The Michaelis-Menten constant (Km) and the maximal velocity (Vmax) values of the peroxidase, laccase, and oxidase mimicking activities of AP-Cu nanozyme are 0.052 mM, 0.14 mM, and 2.49 mM; and 0.552 μM min-1, 6.70 μM min-1, and 2.24 μM min-1, respectively. Then, based on its laccase mimicking activity, the nanozyme was applied in the degradation of phenolic compounds. The calculated kinetic constant for the degradation of 2,4-dichlorophenol is 0.468 min-1 and the degradation efficiency of 2,4-dichlorophenol (0.1 mM) reaches 96.14% at 7 min. Finally, based on the multienzyme mimicking activity of adenine phosphate-Cu nanozyme, simple colorimetric sensing methods with high sensitivity and good selectivity were developed for the detection of hydrogen peroxide, epinephrine, and glutathione in the ranges of 20.0-200.0 μM (R2 = 0.9951), 5.0-100.0 μM (R2 = 0.9970), and 5.0-200.0 μM (R2 = 0.9924) with the limits of quantitation of 20.0 μM, 5.0 μM, and 5.0 μM, respectively.

SIGNIFICANCE

In short, the synthesis of nanozymes with multi-enzyme mimicry activity through coordination between copper ions and small molecule mimicry enzymes provides new ideas for the design and research of multi-enzyme mimics.

Tris-Copper Nanozyme as a Novel Laccase Mimic for the Detection and Degradation of Phenolic Compounds

Phenolic compounds are one of the main organic pollutants in the environment that can seriously affect ecosystems, even at very low concentrations. Due to the resistance of phenolic compounds to microorganisms, conventional biological treatment methods face challenges in effectively addressing this pollution problem. In this study, a novel laccase mimic (Tris-Cu nanozyme) is prepared using a simple and rapid synthesis strategy based on the coordination of copper ions and amino groups in Tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane (Tris). It is found that the Tris-Cu nanozyme exhibits good catalytic activity against a variety of phenolic compounds, the Km, Vmax and Kcat are determined to be 0.18 mM, 15.62 μM·min-1 and 1.57 × 107 min-1 using 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DP) as the substrate, respectively. Then, based on the laccase-like activity of the Tris-Cu nanozyme, a novel colorimetric method for 2,4-DP (the limit of detection (LOD) = 2.4 μM, S/N = 3) detection in the range of 10-400 μM was established, and its accuracy was verified by analyzing tap and lake water samples. In addition, the Tris-Cu nanozyme shows excellent removal abilities for six phenolic compounds in experiments. The removal percentages for 2,4-DP, 2-chlorophenol (2-CP), phenol, resorcinol, 2,6-dimethoxyphenol (2,6-DOP), and bisphenol A (BPA) are 100%, 100%, 100%, 100%, 87%, and 81% at 1 h, respectively. In the simulated effluent, the Tris-Cu nanozyme maintains its efficient catalytic activity towards 2,4-DP, with a degradation percentage of 76.36% at 7 min and a reaction rate constant (k0) of 0.2304 min-1. Therefore, this metal-organic complex shows promise for applications in the monitoring and degrading of environmental pollutants.

Bioinspired CuZn-N/C Single-Atom Nanozyme with High Substrate Specificity for Selective Online Monitoring of Epinephrine in Living Brain

Though many elegant laccase mimics have emerged, these mimics generally have no substrate selectivity as well as low activity, making it difficult to fulfill the demand for monitoring in physiological conditions. Herein, inspired by the Cu-N ligand structure in the active site of natural laccase, we revealed that a carbon nanomaterial with atomically dispersed Cu and Zn atoms (CuZn-N/C) and a well-defined ligand structure could function as an effective laccase mimic for selectively catalyzing epinephrine (EP) oxidation. Catalytic activity of the CuZn-N/C nanozyme was superior to those of Cu-N/C and Zn-N/C and featured a Km value nearly 3-fold lower than that of natural laccase, which indicated that CuZn-N/C has a better affinity for EP. Density functional theory (DFT) revealed the mechanism of the superior catalytic ability of dual-metal CuZn-N/C as follows: (1) the exact distance of the two metal atoms in the CuZn-N/C catalyst makes it suitable for adsorption of the EP molecule, and the CuZn-N/C catalyst can offer the second hydrogen bond that stabilizes the adsorption; (2) molecular orbitals and density of states indicate that the strong interaction between the EP molecule and CuZn-N/C is important for EP catalytic oxidization. Furthermore, a sensitive and selective online optical detection platform (OODP) is constructed for determining EP with a low limit of detection (LOD) of 0.235 μM and a linear range of 0.2-20 μM. The system allows real-time measurement of EP release in the rat brain in vivo following ischemia with dexmedetomidine administration. This work not only provides an idea of designing efficient laccase mimics but also builds a promising chemical platform for better understanding EP-related drug action for ischemic cerebrovascular illnesses and opens up possibilities to explore brain function.

A dual-emission ratiometric fluorescent biosensor for ultrasensitive detection of glibenclamide using S-CDs/CdS quantum dots

In the present work, sulfide-doped carbon dots (S-CDs)/cadmium sulfide quantum dots (CdS QDs) ratiometric fluorescent nanosensor has been developed for sensitive and selective determination of glibenclamide (GLC) in biological fluids. The method was based on the quenching effect of GLC on the dual-emission intensity of the S-CDs/CdS QDs system at 420 nm and 650 nm, which are related to S-CDs and CdS QDs, respectively. The fluorimetric data analysis indicated that the fluorescence signals of the system were quenched by adding GLC in a concentration-dependent manner. A good linear relationship was observed between GLC concentration and the quenched fluorescence intensity of the S-CDs/CdS QDs in the range of 0.3 nM-10.0 μM. The limit of detection (LOD) value was estimated to be 0.12 nM. Furthermore, under optimum conditions, GLC was detected in spiked human serum sample (as real media) using the developed ratiometric nanosensor with an accuracy of 99.6%. According to the results, the developed dual-emission system can be used as a reliable method for the quantitative detection of GLC in biological samples.

Affinity binding of COVID-19 drug candidates (chloroquine/hydroxychloroquine) and serum albumin: Based on photochemistry and molecular docking

Chloroquine (CQ) and hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) show good efficacy in the treatment of SARS-CoV-2 in the early stage, while they are no longer recommended due to their side effects. As an important drug delivery carrier, serum albumin (SA) is closely related to the efficacy of drugs. Here, the affinity behaviour of chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine with two SA were investigated through the multispectral method of biochemistry and computer simulation. The results showed that the intrinsic emission of both SA was quenched by CQ and HCQ in a spontaneous exothermic entropy reduction static process, which relied mainly on hydrogen bonding and van der Waals forces. The lower binding constants suggested weak binding between the two drugs and SA, which might lead to differences in efficacy and possibly even to varying side effects. Binding site recognition demonstrated that CQ preferred to bind to the two sites of both SA, while HCQ tended to bind to site I of SA. The results of conformational studies demonstrated that CQ and HCQ could affect the structure of both SA by slightly increasing the α-helix content of SA. Finally, we combine the results from experimental start with molecular simulations to suggest drug modifications to guide the design of drugs. This work has important implications for guiding drug design improvements to select CQ derivatives with fewer side effects for the treatment of COVID-19.

System-wide health risk prediction for 4-methyl-2,4-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)pent-1-ene(MBP), a major active metabolite of environmental pollutant and food contaminant - Bisphenol A

Human exposure to plastic contaminated foods and environmental micro/nano plastic derived chemicals necessitates system-wide health risk assessment. Hence, current study intend to explore the mode of action (MoA) based adverse outcome pathways of 4-methyl-2,4-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)pent-1-ene (MBP), the major active metabolite of bisphenol A (BPA). The computational study employed broad range of target prediction, systems biology tools and molecular docking protocols. Further, validation of MBP targets was done using protein-ligand fluorescence quenching assay, endothelial cell culture and chicken embryo vascular angiogenesis models. Interestingly, the current results illustrate that various physiological signaling pathways (MAPK and VEGF related angiogenesis signaling) and disease progression pathways (hypertension, cancer and endocrine disorders) were enriched as potential targets of MBP. Further, docking studies highlights the possible binding mechanism of MBP with important targets including endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and serum albumin (BSA). In addition, the validation studies on MBP-BSA interaction (fluorescence quenching), eNOS derived nitric oxide (NOx) generation in endothelial cells and chicken embryo angiogenesis support the system-wide impacts of MBP with highlights on cardiovascular pathogenesis. Thus, the current observation provides novel insights into the system wide impacts of MBP for the futuristic health risk assessment of plastic derived chemicals.

Efficient decolorization and detoxification of triarylmethane and azo dyes by porous-cross-linked enzyme aggregates of Pleurotus ostreatus laccase

In this preset study, porous-cross-linked enzyme aggregates (CLEAs) of Pleurotus ostreatus laccase were utilized for the spontaneous decolorization and detoxification of triarylmethane and azo dyes, reactive blue 2 (RB) and malachite green (MG). The specific surface area and pore radius of the porous-CLEAs are 136.3 m2/g and 19.47 Ao, and the higher specific surface indicated greater biocatalytic efficiency, as increased mass transfer and dye interaction with the CLEAs laccase. CLEAs laccase decolorized 500 ppm of MG and RB with 98.12-58.33% efficiency after 120 min, at pH 5.0 and 50°C, without a mediator. Furthermore, the biotransformation of the MG and RB with immobilized laccase was confirmed with the help of UV-visible spectroscopy, high-performance liquid chromatography, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The reusability potential of CLEAs was assessed in batch mode for 10 cycles of dye decolorization. The decolorization activities for the immobilized laccase were 89% and 12% at the 6th cycle for MG and RB, respectively. This immobilized enzyme could effectively remove dyes from aqueous solution, and demonstrated significant detoxification in experimental plants (Triticum aestivum and Phaseolus mungo) and plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (Azospirillum brasilense, Bacillus megaterium, Rhizobium leguminosarum, Bacillus subtilis, and Pseudomonas fluorescens). In conclusion, porous CLEAs laccase could be useful as a potential bioremediation tool for the detoxification and decolorization of dyeing wastewater in future.

Green Synthesis of Three-Dimensional Au Nanorods@TiO2 Nanocomposites as Self-Cleaning SERS Substrate for Sensitive, Recyclable, and In Situ Sensing Environmental Pollutants

In this work, a simple, low-cost, green, and mild method for the preparation of three-dimensional nanocomposite materials of gold nanorods (Au NRs)@TiO₂ is reported. The surface of Au NRs was coated with TiO₂ in situ reduction at room temperature without a complicated operation. The synthetic Au NRs@TiO₂ nanocomposites were used as surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) active substrates for the reusable and sensitive detection of environmental pollutants. The results showed that the pollutants on Au NRs@TiO₂ nanocomposites have higher SERS activity and reproducibility than those on the Au NR substrate without the presence of TiO₂. Moreover, the SERS substrate can be readily recycled by UV-assisted self-cleaning to remove residual analyte molecules. Malachite green (MG) and crystal violet (CV) were used as examples to demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed sensor for the sensitive detection of environmental pollutants. The results showed that the limit of detections (LODs) were 0.75 μg/L and 0.50 μg/L for MG and CV, respectively, with the recoveries ranging from 86.67% to 91.20% and 83.70% to 89.00%. Meanwhile, the SERS substrate can be easily regenerated by UV light irradiation. Our investigation revealed that within three cycles, the Au NRs@TiO₂ substrates still maintained the high SERS enhancement effect that they showed when first used for SERS detection. These results indicated that the method can be used to detect MG and CV in really complex samples. Due to the high sensitivity, reusability, and portability and the rapid detection property of the proposed sensor, it can have potential applications in the on-site detection of environmental pollutants in a complex sample matrix.

Co-metabolic biodegradation of structurally discrepant dyestuffs by Klebsiella sp. KL-1: A molecular mechanism with regards to the differential responsiveness

In this study, an attempt was made to decipher the underlying differential response mechanism of Klebsiella sp. KL-1 induced by exposure to disparate categories of dyestuffs in xylose (Xyl) co-metabolic system. Here, representative reactive black 5 (RB5), remazol brilliant blue R (RBBR) and malachite green (MG) belonging to the azo, anthraquinone and triphenylmethane categories were employed as three model dyestuffs. Klebsiella sp. KL-1 enabled nearly 98%, 80% or 97% removal of contaminants in assays Xyl + RB5, Xyl + RBBR or Xyl + MG after 48 h, which was respectively 16%, 11% or 22% higher than those in the assays devoid of xylose. LC-QTOF-MS revealed an increased formation of smaller molecular weight intermediates in assay Xyl + RB5, whereas more metabolic pathways were deduced in assay Xyl + RBBR. Metaproteomics analysis displayed remarkable proteome alteration with regards to the structural difference effect of dyestuffs by Klebsiella sp. KL-1. Significant (p-value<0.05) activation of pivotal candidate NADH-quinone oxidoreductase occurred after 48 h of disparate dyestuff exposure but with varying abundance. Dominant FMN-dependent NADH-azoreductase, Cytochrome d terminal oxidase or Thiol peroxidase were likewise deemed to be responsible for the catalytic cleavage of RB5, RBBR or MG, respectively. Further, the differential response mechanism towards the structurally discrepant dyestuffs was put forward. Elevated reducing force associated with the corresponding functional proteins/enzymes was transferred to the exterior of the cell to differentially decompose the target contaminants. Overall, this study was dedicated to provide in-depth insights into the molecular response mechanism of co-metabolic degradation of refractory and structurally discrepant dyestuffs by an indigenous isolated Klebsiella strain.

Adsorption of dyes methyl violet and malachite green from aqueous solution on multi-step modified rice husk powder in single and binary systems: Characterization, adsorption behavior and physical interpretations

A novel modified rice husk (MRH) has been prepared for removing cationic dyes in both single system and binary system. SEM-EDS, FT-IR, XRD and XPS were used to characterize the physical and chemical properties of MRH. It showed that the maximum adsorption capacity of MRH for methyl violet (MV) and malachite green (MG) in single system was 154.49 and 996.97 mg g^-1, while in binary system was 530.94 and 408.58 mg g^-1, respectively. The experimental results showed that the pseudo-second-order kinetic model was better to describe the kinetic behavior of MV and MG adsorption. By using double layer adsorption model, we found that the n_D for MV adsorption were 2.52, 2.65 and 3.34 at 298, 308 and 318 K, respectively, and the n_D for MG adsorption were 4.59, 4.85 and 4.30, respectively. These results illustrated that multiple dye molecules were adsorbed on one adsorption site in non-parallel direction, indicating that the adsorption of dyes is multi-molecular mechanism. Furthermore, synergistic and antagonistic adsorption might be existed simultaneously in binary system. In summary, MRH has been shown well adsorption properties and reusability and our finding might provide a new idea for developing low-cost, efficient and reusable adsorbent to remove dyes from wastewater.

A sensitive colori/fluorimetric nanoprobe for detection of polyphenols using peroxidase-mimic plasma-modified MoO3 nanoparticles

Herein, MoO₃ nanoparticles were synthesized and modified using Argon cold plasma treatment (Ar-MoO₃NPs) for the first time. Various characterization studies were performed using various methods, including SEM, XRD, and FTIR techniques. The catalytic activity of MoO₃NPs before and after modification was investigated using fluorometric and colorimetric experiments. The results indicated that the enzyme-mimic activity of MoO₃NPs increased after plasma-surface modification (1.5 fold). Also, a fluorometric method based on the oxidation of a non-fluorescent terephthalic acid by Ar-MoO₃NPs in the presence of H₂O₂ and the production of a compound with a high emission was designed for polyphenols detection. Quercetin was used as a polyphenol standard for the optimization of the proposed system. Under the optimum conditions, the dynamic ranges of the calibration graphs and the detection limits were calculated for different polyphenols (μmol/L): quercetin (2-232, 12.22), resveratrol (2-270, 61.89), curcumin (39-400, 38.89), gallic acid (2-309, 21.5) and ellagic acid (39-309, 16.25). Also, the precision of the method, which was expressed as RSD%, was in the range of 0.286-1.19%. The proposed system could detect individual polyphenols and total polyphenols in three different fruit extracts (apple, orange, and grapes) with high sensitivity. The obtained total concentrations of polyphenols in real samples were comparable to those calculated by the spectrophotometric method. So, a novel and sensitive optical nanosensor for the detection of polyphenols was reported as an alternative to the routine Folin-Ciocalteu spectrophotometric technique.

Injectable Hydrogel Based on Defect-Rich Multi-Nanozymes for Diabetic Wound Healing via an Oxygen Self-Supplying Cascade Reaction

Diabetic wound healing remains challenging owing to the risk for bacterial infection, hypoxia, excessive glucose levels, and oxidative stress. Glucose-activated cascade reactions can consume glucose and eradicate bacteria, avoiding the direct use of hydrogen peroxide (H₂ O₂ ) and wound pH restriction on peroxidase-like activity. However, the anoxic microenvironment in diabetic wounds impedes the cascade reaction due to the oxygen (O₂ ) dependence of glucose oxidation. Herein, defect-rich molybdenum disulfide nanosheets loaded with bovine serum albumin-modified gold nanoparticle (MoS₂ @Au@BSA NSs) heterostructures are designed and anchored onto injectable hydrogels to promote diabetic wound healing through an O₂ self-supplying cascade reaction. BSA decoration decreases the particle size of Au, increasing the activity of multiple enzymes. Glucose oxidase-like Au catalyzes the oxidation of glucose into gluconic acid and H₂ O₂ , which is transformed into a hydroxyl radical (•OH) catalyzed by peroxidase-like MoS₂ @Au@BSA to eradicate bacteria. When the wound pH reaches an alkalescent condition, MoS₂ @Au@BSA mimicks superoxide dismutase to transform superoxide anions into O₂ and H₂ O₂ , and decomposes endogenous and exogenous H₂ O₂ into O₂ via catalase-like mechanisms, reducing oxidative stress, alleviating hypoxia, and facilitating glucose oxidation. The MoS₂ @Au@BSA nanozyme-anchored injectable hydrogel, composed of oxidized dextran and glycol chitosan crosslinked through a Schiff base, significantly accelerates diabetic wound healing.

Interaction of bovine serum albumin with ellagic acid and urolithins A and B: Insights from surface plasmon resonance, fluorescence, and molecular docking techniques

Human serum albumin (HSA) shows the sequence homology and structural similarity with bovine serum albumin (BSA). Therefore, here, the interaction of natural phenolic antioxidants, ellagic acid (ELA), and its derivatives-urolithins A (ULA) and B (ULB)-with BSA was investigated. The results of surface plasmon resonance (SPR) indicated a high affinity of ELA, ULA, and ULB to BSA, with KD value < 1 × 10-6 M. The KD values of binding of the studied compounds to BSA increased with temperature, revealing a reduction in affinity with an increase in temperature. Fluorescence data showed that the quenching of BSA by tested compounds occurred via a static quenching. However, the affinity of ELA for BSA was higher than that of ULA and ULB, which may be because of the presence of a large number of hydroxyl groups in its structure. The assessment of the antioxidant activity of BSA and BSA-ELA/ULA/ULB complexes using the DPPH assay indicated that the DPPH scavenging activity of BSA increased after complex formation with ELA/ULA/ULB in the following order: BSA-ELA > BSA-ULA > BSA-ULB > BSA, which was due to their structural differences. The results of the docking analysis were in agreement with the experimental results.

Iron single-atom anchored N-doped carbon as a 'laccase-like' nanozyme for the degradation and detection of phenolic pollutants and adrenaline

To solve the inherent defects of laccase, the first iron single-atom anchored N-doped carbon material (Fe₁@CN-20) as a laccase mimic was disclosed. The FeN₄ structure of this material can well mimic the catalytic activity of laccase. Although Fe₁@CN-20 has a lower metal content (2.9 wt%) than any previously reported laccase mimics, it exhibits kinetic constants comparable to those of laccase, as its K_m (Michaelis constant) and V_max (maximum rate) are 0.070 mM and 2.25 µM/min respectively, which are similar to those of laccase (0.078 mM, 2.49 µM/min). This catalyst displays excellent stability even under extreme pH (2-9), high temperature (100 °C), strong ionic strength (500 mM of NaCl), high ethanol concentration (volume ratio 40%) and long storage time (2 months). Additionally, it can be reused for at least 7 times with only a slight loss in activity. Therefore, this material has a much lower price and better stability and recyclability than laccase, which has been applied in the detection and degradation of a series of phenolic compounds. In the detection of adrenaline, Fe₁@CN-20 achieved a detection limit of 1.3 µM, indicating it is more sensitive than laccase (3.9 µM).

Dual enzymes-mimic activity of nanolayered manganese-calcium oxide for fluorometric determination of metformin

There are different analytical methods available for the determination of metformin, as an oral hypoglycemic and antidiabetic drug, in biological samples. However, most of these methods suffer from some drawbacks, including high-priced materials and equipment, damaging chemical reagents, time-consuming nature, and tedious operation procedures. So, in this work a new, sensitive and simple method was reported for the detection of metformine. In this regard, nanolayered manganese-calcium oxide (NL-MnCaO₂) were synthesized and characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) techniques. Also, we studied the enzyme-like activity of synthesized particles and reported a bifunctional nanozyme, which performs the dual roles for peroxidase and catalase-mimicking. The results demonstrated the hindering effect of metformin on the peroxidase-mimic activity of NL-MnCaO₂ and this effect was increased by raising metformin concentration. So, a sensitive fluorometric detection system was designed for the analytical assay of metformin, based on the terephthalic acid (TA)-H₂O₂ reaction with NL-MnCaO₂. An acceptable linearity was observed between the metformin concentration and fluorescence quenching of the system in the range of 0.07-0.77 mM. Limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) were 0.17 μM and 0.96 μM, respectively. The proposed system was applied for the estimation of metformin concentration in serum samples by recoveries of 86.68-106%. So, the proposed fluorometric method provides some main advantages such as wide linear range, low detection limit, rapid detections, high sensitivity, and good practicability for the determination of metformin in biological samples.

Degradation and Detection of Endocrine Disruptors by Laccase-Mimetic Polyoxometalates

Endocrine disruptors are newly identified water contaminants and immediately caught worldwide concern. An effort has been made to degrade endocrine disruptors in the water body by relying on laccase-assisted approaches, including laccase-mediated catalytic systems, immobilized laccase catalytic systems, and nano-catalytic systems based on atypical protein enzymes. Analogous to laccases, polyoxometalates (POMs) have a similar size as these enzymes. They are also capable of using oxygen as an electron acceptor, which could assist the removal of endocrine disruptors in water. This perspective begins with a brief introduction to endocrine disruptors and laccases, summarizes current approaches employing laccases, and focuses on the nano-catalytic systems that mimic the function of laccases. Among the inorganic nanoparticles, POMs meet the design requirements and are easy for large-scale production. The catalytic performance of POMs in water treatment is highlighted, and an example of using polyoxovanadates for endocrine disruptor degradation is given at the end of this perspective. Exploring laccase-mimetic POMs will give key insights into the degradation of emergent water contaminants.

Eco-green C, O co-doped porous BN adsorbent for aqueous solution with superior adsorption efficiency and selectivity

Toxic dyes in wastewater will become a significant hazard to human health if they are not treated effectively. Therefore, it is significant to separate and remove dyes from the aqueous solution. C and O co-doped BN (BCNO) with high adsorption capacity and outstanding cycle efficiency is a simple and efficient adsorbent for the cationic dye malachite green (MG). Glucose is characterized as an eco-friendly and cheap source of C and O. Benefited by the high specific surface area (1515.6 m²/g), the maximum adsorption capacity of MG is 1511.1 mg/g. Besides, the curves of adsorption fitting correspond to the Langmuir model and the pseudo-second-order model, respectively. Moreover, after 5 cycles, the adsorption efficiency reached 78% of the first time and the adsorption capacity remained above 780 mg/g. Furthermore, in the selectivity adsorption study, the cationic dyes (MG, neutral red (NR), methylene blue (MB)) can be removed more effectively in the binary dye system of MG-methyl orange (MO), NR-MO, MB-MO, MG-Orange II (OR), MB-OR, or NR-OR. BCNO-2 has a promising application in the removal of cationic dyes from complex dye wastewaters.

Current research progress on laccase-like nanomaterials

The first systematic review of the progress of research on the types and applications of laccase-like activity of nanomaterials is reported.

Multiple cobalt active sites evenly embedded in mesoporous carbon nanospheres derived from a polymer-metal-organic framework: efficient removal and photodegradation of malachite green

The derivative catalysts of polyMOF(Co) effectively degrade malachite green under visible irradiation.

Highly stable halide perovskite with Na incorporation for efficient photocatalytic degradation of organic dyes in water solution

To overcome water instability and low photocatalytic activity of lead-free halide perovskite for the degradation of organic dyes, we report a novel photocatalyst of lead-free halide perovskite with Na incorporation and employ it for the photocatalytic degradation of organic dyes in water solution under visible light irradiation. The main purpose of this work is to confirm the feasibility of lead-free halide perovskite with Na incorporation for improving the photocatalytic efficiency and recyclability in water solution and further to explore the mechanism behind the enhancement of photocatalytic performance after Na incorporation. The results show that Cs₂Ag_0.60Na_0.40InCl₆ can increase the dye degradation rate by at least 50% than the lead-free halide perovskite (Cs₂AgInCl₆) and the photocatalyst of Ag substituted by Na (Cs₂NaInCl₆). The degradation efficiency of rhodamine 6G catalyzed by Cs₂Ag_0.60Na_0.40InCl₆ reaches 94.94% over 60 min, which is 72% higher than that catalyzed by Cs₂NaInCl₆ and 27% higher than that catalyzed by Cs₂AgInCl₆. What's more, the degradation efficiency of methyl orange catalyzed by Cs₂Ag_0.60Na_0.40InCl₆ is 90.39% within 150 min, which is 66% higher than that catalyzed by Cs₂NaInCl₆ and 54% higher than that catalyzed by Cs₂AgInCl₆. Moreover, the photocatalyst of Cs₂Ag_0.60Na_0.40InCl₆ exhibits a desirable recyclability by water exposure, retaining the degradation efficiency over 90% after five cycles. The strengthened photocatalytic performance in the presence of Cs₂Ag_0.60Na_0.40InCl₆ is ascribed to an increase of radiative recombination rate and an improvement of average lifetime to 204 ns since an appropriate Na incorporation at the atomic ratio of Na/Ag=4:6 breaks the original crystal lattice and meanwhile increases the electron and hole overlap. The work proves a great potential of halide perovskite with Na incorporation for the highly efficient photocatalytic degradation of organic dyes in water solution.