Nanoflower-Shaped Biocatalyst with Peroxidase Activity Enhances the Reversible Addition–Fragmentation Chain Transfer Polymerization of Methacrylate Monomers

Bioenhanced Rapid Redox Initiation for RAFT Polymerization in the Air

A well-controlled bioenhanced reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) in the presence of air is carried out by using glucose oxidase (GOx), glucose, ascorbic acid (Asc acid), and ppm level of hemin. The catalytic concentration of hemin is employed to enhance hydrogen peroxide (H₂ O₂ )/Asc acid redox initiation, achieving rapid RAFT polymerization. Narrow molecular weight distributions and high monomer conversion (Ð as low as 1.09 at >95% conversion) are achieved within tens of minutes. Several kinds of monomers are used to verify the universal implication of the presented method. The influences of the pH and feed ratio of each component on the polymerization rate are assessed. Besides, a polymerization rate regulation is realized by managing Asc acid addition. This work significantly increases the rate of redox-initiated GOx-deoxygen RAFT polymerization by using simple and green reactants, facilitating the application of RAFT polymerization in areas such as biomedical applications.

Preparing Well-Defined Polyacrylamide-b-Polycarbonate by Integrating Photoiniferter Polymerization and TBD-Catalyzed ROP

The dual-initiator technique allows the polymerization of different monomers from orthogonal polymerization mechanisms to obtain block copolymers (BCPs). In this study, it is attempted to combine photoiniferter living free radical polymerization and organocatalytic ring-opening polymerization (ROP) to design a hydroxyl-functionalized carbamodithioate, i.e., 4-(hydroxymethyl)benzyl diethylcarbamodithioate (HBDC), which can integrate photoiniferter polymerization of acrylamide monomers and ROP of cyclic carbonates. As a proof of concept, the monomer applicability is further extended to acrylates and lactones. The results confirm that the two polymerization systems are experimentally compatible in a stepwise sequence as well as in a simultaneous one-pot process to synthesize BCPs. It is reasonable to assume that HBDC can allow for simple and efficient one-pot access to well-defined BCPs from a larger range of monomers, which is more advantageous from the operational, economical, and environmental points of view.

Immobilized enzymes in inorganic hybrid nanoflowers for biocatalytic and biosensing applications

Enzyme immobilization has been accepted as a powerful technique to solve the drawbacks of free enzymes such as limited activity, stability and recyclability under harsh conditions. Different from the conventional immobilization methods, enzyme immobilization in inorganic hybrid nanoflowers was executed in a biomimetic mineralization manner with the advantages of mild reaction conditions, and thus it was beneficial to obtain ideal biocatalysts with superior characteristics. The key factors influencing the formation of enzyme-based inorganic hybrid nanoflowers were elucidated to obtain a deeper insight into the mechanism for achieving unique morphology and improved properties of immobilized enzymes. To date, immobilized enzymes in inorganic hybrid nanoflowers have been successfully applied in biocatalysis for preparing medical intermediates, biodiesel and biomedical polymers, and solving the environmental or food industrial issues such as the degradation of toxic dyes, pollutants and allergenic proteins. Moreover, they could be used in the development of various biosensors, which provide a promising platform to detect toxic substances in the environment or biomarkers associated with various diseases. We hope that this review will promote the fundamental research and wide applications of immobilized enzymes in inorganic hybrid nanoflowers for expanding biocatalysis and biosensing.

Understanding intricacies of bioinspired organic-inorganic hybrid nanoflowers: A quest to achieve enhanced biomolecules immobilization for biocatalytic, biosensing and bioremediation applications

The immobilization of biomolecules has been a subject of interest for scientists for a long time. The organic-inorganic hybrid nanoflowers are a new class of nanostructures that act as a host platform for the immobilization of such biomolecules. It provides better practical applicability to these functional biomolecules while also providing superior activity and reusability when catalysis is involved. These nanostructures have a versatile and straightforward synthesis process and also exhibit enzyme mimicking activity in many cases. However, this facile synthesis involves many intricacies that require in-depth analysis to fully attain its potential as an immobilization technique. A complete account of all the factors involving the synthesis process optimisation is essential to be studied to make it commercially viable. This paper explores all the different aspects of hybrid nanoflowers which sets them apart from the conventional immobilization techniques while also giving an overview of its wide range of applications in industries.

Metal-Free White Light-Emitting Fluorescent Material Based on Simple Pillar[5]arene-tripodal Amide System and Theoretical Insights on Its Assembly and Fluorescent Properties

The booming of host-guest assembly-based supramolecular chemistry provides abundant ways to construct functional systems and materials. Attracted by the important application prospect of white light emission and aggregation-induced emission (AIE) materials, herein, we report an efficient way for fabricating metal-free white light-emitting AIE materials through the supramolecular assembly of simple organic compounds: methoxyl pillar[5]arene (MP5) and tri-(pyridine-4-ylamido)benzene (TAP). By host-guest assembly, MP5 and TAP formed a supramolecular polymer (MP5-T); meanwhile, the MP5-T xerogel powder emitted white light at CIE coordinates (0.29 and 0.29). The supramolecular assembly and white light-emitting mechanisms were carefully investigated by experiments as well as quantum chemical calculations including density functional theory (DFT), reduced density gradient, electrostatic surface potential, independent gradient model, and frontier molecular orbital (highest-occupied molecular orbital-lowest-unoccupied molecular orbital) analyses. Interestingly, according to the experiments and calculations, the supramolecular assembly is critical in the white light-emitting phenomenon. Moreover, in this work, the quantum chemical calculations could not only support experimental phenomena but also provide deep understanding and visualized presentation of the assembly and emission mechanism. In addition, the obtained MP5-T solid powder could serve as a novel and easy means to make material for white light-emitting devices.

Repurposing Biocatalysts to Control Radical Polymerizations

Reversible-deactivation radical polymerizations (controlled radical polymerizations) have revolutionized and revitalized the field of polymer synthesis. While enzymes and other biologically derived catalysts have long been known to initiate free radical polymerizations, the ability of peroxidases, hemoglobin, laccases, enzyme-mimetics, chlorophylls, heme, red blood cells, bacteria, and other biocatalysts to control or initiate reversible-deactivation radical polymerizations has only been described recently. Here, the scope of biocatalytic atom transfer radical polymerizations (bioATRP), enzyme-initiated reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer radical polymerizations (bioRAFT), biocatalytic organometallic-mediated radical polymerizations (bioOMRP), and biocatalytic reversible complexation mediated polymerizations (bioRCMP) is critically reviewed, and the potential of these reactions for the environmentally friendly synthesis of precision polymers, for the preparation of functional nanostructures, for the modification of surfaces, and for biosensing is discussed.

Synthesis and Assembly of Laccase-Polymer Giant Amphiphiles by Self-Catalyzed CuAAC Click Chemistry

Covalent coupling of hydrophobic polymers to the exterior of hydrophilic proteins would mediate unique macroscopic assembly of bioconjugates to generate amphiphilic superstructures as novel nanoreactors or biocompatible drug delivery systems. The main objective of this study was to develop a novel strategy for the synthesis of protein-polymer giant amphiphiles by the combination of copper-mediated living radical polymerization and azide-alkyne cycloaddition reaction (CuAAC). Azide-functionalized succinimidyl ester was first synthesized for the facile introduction of azide groups to proteins such as albumin from bovine serum (BSA) and laccase from Trametes versicolor. Alkyne-terminal polymers with varied hydrophobicity were synthesized by using commercial copper wire as the activators from a trimethylsilyl protected alkyne-functionalized initiator in DMSO under ambient temperature. The conjugation of alkyne-functionalized polymers to the azide-functionalized laccase could be conducted even without additional copper catalyst, which indicated a successful self-catalyzed CuAAC reaction. The synthesized amphiphiles were found to aggregate into spherical nanoparticles in water and showed strong relevance to the hydrophobicity of coupled polymers. The giant amphiphiles showed decreased enzyme activity yet better stability during storage after chemical modification and self-assembly. These findings will deepen our understanding on protein folding, macroscopic self-assembly, and support potential applications in bionanoreactor, enzyme immobilization, and water purification.