Protein-templated biomimetic silica nanoparticles

Bioinspired synthesis of multifunctional, highly stable polymeric templated silver-silica colloids as catalytic and antibacterial coatings for paper

In this paper, a simple, bottom up, bioinspired technique is proposed for the synthesis of highly stable colloids of silica supported spherical silver nanoparticles (SiO2@Ag) that act as efficient catalytic and antimicrobial coatings for an organic substrate, filter paper. The core - shell structure and the highly branched dendritic polymer, poly(ethylene)imine, enabled the precise control of growth rate and morphology of silica and silver nanoparticles. The polymer also enabled the deposition of these nanoparticles onto an organic substrate, filter paper, through immersion by modifying its surface. The catalytic and antibacterial properties of these samples were assessed. The results obtained from this analysis showed a complete degradation of an aqueous pollutant, 4-nitrophenol, for 6 successive catalytic cycles without intermediate purification steps. Furthermore, the polymeric silica-silver suspension proved to express antibacterial activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa). The antibacterial properties were evaluated according to the disk diffusion method, whereas the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration was also determined. The samples were examined by Scanning Electron Microscopy, Transmission Electron Microscopy, X-ray diffraction analysis, z-potential analysis, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy and Ultraviolet-visible Spectroscopy.

Nanoengineered Silica-Based Biomaterials for Regenerative Medicine

The paradigm of regenerative medicine is undergoing a transformative shift with the emergence of nanoengineered silica-based biomaterials. Their unique confluence of biocompatibility, precisely tunable porosity, and the ability to modulate cellular behavior at the molecular level makes them highly desirable for diverse tissue repair and regeneration applications. Advancements in nanoengineered silica synthesis and functionalization techniques have yielded a new generation of versatile biomaterials with tailored functionalities for targeted drug delivery, biomimetic scaffolds, and integration with stem cell therapy. These functionalities hold the potential to optimize therapeutic efficacy, promote enhanced regeneration, and modulate stem cell behavior for improved regenerative outcomes. Furthermore, the unique properties of silica facilitate non-invasive diagnostics and treatment monitoring through advanced biomedical imaging techniques, enabling a more holistic approach to regenerative medicine. This review comprehensively examines the utilization of nanoengineered silica biomaterials for diverse applications in regenerative medicine. By critically appraising the fabrication and design strategies that govern engineered silica biomaterials, this review underscores their groundbreaking potential to bridge the gap between the vision of regenerative medicine and clinical reality.

Bacteria-Polymer Composite Material for Glycerol Valorization

Bacterial immobilization is regarded as an enabling technology to improve the stability and reusability of biocatalysts. Natural polymers are often used as immobilization matrices but present certain drawbacks, such as biocatalyst leakage and loss of physical integrity upon utilization in bioprocesses. Herein, we prepared a hybrid polymeric matrix that included silica nanoparticles for the unprecedented immobilization of the industrially relevant Gluconobacter frateurii (Gfr). This biocatalyst can valorize glycerol, an abundant by-product of the biodiesel industry, into glyceric acid (GA) and dihydroxyacetone (DHA). Different concentrations of siliceous nanosized materials, such as biomimetic Si nanoparticles (SiNps) and montmorillonite (MT), were added to alginate. These hybrid materials were significantly more resistant by texture analysis and presented a more compact structure as seen by scanning electron microscopy. The preparation including 4% alginate with 4% SiNps proved to be the most resistant material, with a homogeneous distribution of the biocatalyst in the beads as seen by confocal microscopy using a fluorescent mutant of Gfr. It produced the highest amounts of GA and DHA and could be reused for up to eight consecutive 24 h reactions with no loss of physical integrity and negligible bacterial leakage. Overall, our results indicate a new approach to generating biocatalysts using hybrid biopolymer supports.

Starch-Directed Synthesis of Worm-Shaped Silica Microtubes

Many strategies have been adopted to prepare silica materials with highly controlled structures, typically using sol-gel chemistry. Frequently, the alkoxysilanes used in sol-gel chemistry are based on monoalcohols, e.g., Si(OEt)₄. The structural control over silica synthesis achieved by these precursors is highly sensitive to pH and solvency. Alkoxysilanes derived from the sugar alcohol glycerol (diglycerylsilane) react more slowly and with much less sensitivity to pH. We report that, in the presence of cooled aqueous starch solutions, glyceroxysilanes undergo transesterification with the sugars on starch, leading to (hollow) microtubules resembling worms of about 400 nm in diameter. The tubes arise from the pre-assembly of starch bundles, which occurs only well below room temperature. It is straightforward to treat the first-formed starch/silica composite with the enzyme amylase to, in a programmed fashion, increasingly expose porosity, including the worm morphology, while washing away untethered silica and digested starch to leave an open, highly porous materials. Sintering at 600 °C completely removes the starch silane moieties.

A living material platform for the biomineralization of biosilica

Nature has a vast array of biomineralization mechanisms. The commonly shared mechanism by many living organisms to form hardened tissues is the nucleation of mineral structures via proteins. Living materials, thanks to synthetic biology, are providing many opportunities to program cells for many functionalities. Here we have demonstrated a living material system for biosilicification. Silaffins are utilized to synthesize silicified cell walls by one of the most abundant organism groups called diatoms. The R5 peptide motif of the silaffins is known for its ability to precipitate silica in ambient conditions. Therefore, various studies have been conducted to implement the silicification activity of R5 in different application areas, such as regenerative medicine and tissue engineering. However, laborious protein purification steps are required prior to silica nanoparticle production in recombinant approaches. In this study, we aimed to engineer an alternative bacterial platform to achieve silicification using released and bacteria-intact forms of R5-attached fluorescent proteins (FP). Hence, we displayed R5-FP hybrids on the cell surface of E. coli via antigen 43 (Ag43) autotransporter system and managed to demonstrate heat-controllable release from the surface. We also showed that the bacteria cells displaying R5-FP can be used in silicification reactions. Lastly, considering the stimulating effect of silica on osteogenic differentiation, we treated human dental pulp stem cells (hDPSCs) with the silica aggregates formed via R5-FP hybrids. Earlier calcium crystal deposition around the hDPSCs was observed. We envision that our platform can serve as a faster and more economical alternative for biosilicification applications, including endodontics.

Distribution of Biominerals and Mineral-Organic Composites in Plant Trichomes

Biomineralization is a common phenomenon in plants and has been shown to be chemically, functionally and topologically diverse. Silica and calcium carbonate have long been known as structural plant biominerals and calcium phosphate (apatite)–long known from animals–has recently been reported. Strikingly, up to three different biominerals may occur in a single trichome in, e.g., Urticaceae and Loasaceae, and in combination with organic compounds, can form organic/inorganic composite materials. This article presents an extension of previous studies on the distribution of these biominerals in Loasaceae trichomes with a focus on their spatial (three-dimensional) distribution and co-localization with organic substances. Light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy with high-resolution EDX element analyses of sample surfaces and sections illustrate the differential distribution and composition of the different biomineral phases across cell surfaces and cell walls. Raman spectroscopy additionally permits the identification of organic and inorganic compounds side by side. All three biominerals may be found in a nearly pure inorganic phase, e.g., on the plant surfaces and in the barbs of the glochidiate trichomes, or in combination with a larger proportion of organic compounds (cellulose, pectin). The cell lumen may be additionally filled with amorphous mineral deposits. Water-solubility of the mineral fractions differs considerably. Plant trichomes provide an exciting model system for biomineralization and enable the in-vivo study of the formation of complex composite materials with different biomineral and organic compounds involved.

Bovine Serum Albumin-Directed Fabrication of Nanohydroxyapatite with Improved Stability and Biocompatibility

Nanohydroxyapatite (nHAp) has gained considerable concerns due to its vast potential in biomedical applications such as drug delivery, tissue engineering and bone repair. However, the preparation of HAp nanostructures in a controllable manner under environment-friendly reaction conditions remains a challenge. In recent years, the use of biological macromolecules or proteins as templates in the production of nanomaterials has gained more attention due to the relatively mild physical conditions needed for biomimetic synthesis. In this study, a novel nHAp was fabricated by employing bovine serum albumin (BSA) as template under mild condition. After that, the as-obtained nanostructured materials which have well-defined structures and morphologies were characterized by various methods. Furthermore, the rod-like shaped hydroxyapatite demonstrated improved stability properties, as well as cell viability and biocompatibility, compared to BSA free synthesized c-HAp. We expect that this pleasantly novel research will render new insights into the fabrication strategies of nanomaterials and be of practical importance for the expanding biological application.

Green Production of Cladribine by Using Immobilized 2'-Deoxyribosyltransferase from Lactobacillus delbrueckii Stabilized through a Double Covalent/Entrapment Technology

Nowadays, enzyme-mediated processes offer an eco-friendly and efficient alternative to the traditional multistep and environmentally harmful chemical processes. Herein we report the enzymatic synthesis of cladribine by a novel 2'-deoxyribosyltransferase (NDT)-based combined biocatalyst. To this end, Lactobacillus delbrueckii NDT (LdNDT) was successfully immobilized through a two-step immobilization methodology, including a covalent immobilization onto glutaraldehyde-activated biomimetic silica nanoparticles followed by biocatalyst entrapment in calcium alginate. The resulting immobilized derivative, SiG_{PEI 25000}-LdNDT-Alg, displayed 98% retained activity and was shown to be active and stable in a broad range of pH (5-9) and temperature (30-60 °C), but also displayed an extremely high reusability (up to 2100 reuses without negligible loss of activity) in the enzymatic production of cladribine. Finally, as a proof of concept, SiG_{PEI 25000}-LdNDT-Alg was successfully employed in the green production of cladribine at mg scale.

Profiling the Neoplasm Microenvironment of Silica Nanomaterial-Derived Scaffolds of Single, 2-, and 3-Composite Systems

The challenges with scaffold profiling of cell-based assay includes accelerated cancer cell proliferation, induced scaffold toxicity, and identifying irrelevant cancer cell-based assays in batch assessments. This study investigates profiling carcinoma of breast cancer cells of MCF-7 model systems using silica nanoparticles scaffold sourced from synthetic materials and plant extracts. Herein, the engineered tissue scaffolds were used to create temporary structures for cancer cell attachments, differentiation, and subsequently to assess the metabolic activity of the cancer cell colonies. The cell viability of the cancer cells was assessed using the tetrazolium compound (MTS reagent), which was reduced to colored formazan, to indicate metabolically active cancer cells in a proliferating assay. We aimed to develop cancer cell-based scaffolds that not only mimic the neoplastic activity, but that also allowed synergistic interaction with cisplatin for in vitro assay screening.

Biomimetic Synthesis and Evaluation of Interconnected Bimodal Mesostructured MSF@Poly(Ethyleneimine)s for Improved Drug Loading and Oral Adsorption of the Poorly Water-Soluble Drug, Ibuprofen

Purpose

The aim of this study was to improve the oral bioavailability and anti-inflammatory activity of the poorly soluble drug ibuprofen (IBU) by employing a new kind of poly(ethyleneimine)s (PEIs)-based mesocellular siliceous foam (MSF) called B-BMSF@PEI as drug carrier.

Methods

B-BMSF@PEI was biomimetically synthesized by using PEIs as templates, catalysts and scaffolds under ambient conditions, and the structural characteristics, including size, morphology, mesoscopic structure and pore properties, were estimated by TEM, SEM, FTIR and N₂ desorption/adsorption measurement. Then, IBU was incorporated into B-BMSF@PEI at the drug:carrier weight ratio of 1:1. The structural features of IBU before and after drug loading were systemically characterized. IBU and B-BMSF@PEI were then subject to in vitro drug release study and wettability analysis. Finally, in vivo pharmacokinetics and anti-inflammatory pharmacodynamics studies were carried out to evaluate the efficacy of B-BMSF@PEI on improving the oral adsorption of IBU.

Results

The results demonstrated that B-BMSF@PEI was a meso–meso porous silica material with foam appearance. It consisted of uniform spherical cells (40 nm) with interconnected pore networks. IBU can be successfully loaded into B-BMSF@PEI with high efficiency (as high as 39.53%), and crystal IBU was effectively converted to an amorphous state during this process. Benefiting from the great architectures of B-BMSF@PEI, IBU/B-BMSF@PEI performed good wetting property and significantly improved the dissolution rate in both simulated gastric fluid (SGF) and simulated intestinal fluid (SIF). Notably, IBU exhibited very satisfactory relative bioavailability (681.4%) and anti-inflammatory effects (the inhibition rates were between the ranges of 113.5% to 1504.3%).

Conclusion

B-BMSF@PEI with bimodal mesoporous system and interconnected nanopores was obtained owing to the dynamic self-assembly functions of PEIs. It had superiority in drug loading and could improve the oral adsorption of ibuprofen to a satisfactory level.

Stabilization of b-Glucuronidase by Immobilization in Magnetic-Silica Hybrid Supports

β-Glucuronidases are a class of enzymes that catalyze the breakdown of complex carbohydrates. They have well documented biocatalytic applications in synthesis, therapeutics, and analytics that could benefit from enzyme immobilization and stabilization. In this work, we have explored a number of immobilization strategies for Patella vulgata β-Glucuronidase that comprised a tailored combination of biomimetic silica (Si) and magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs). The individual effect of each material on the enzyme upon immobilization was first tested. Three different immobilization strategies for covalent attachment on MNPs and different three catalysts for the deposition of Si particles were tested. We produced nine different immobilized preparations and only two of them presented negligible activity. All the preparations were in the micro-sized range (from 1299 ± 52 nm to 2101 ± 67 nm of hydrodynamic diameter). Their values for polydispersity index varied around 0.3, indicating homogeneous populations of particles with low probability of agglomeration. Storage, thermal, and operational stability were superior for the enzyme immobilized in the composite material. At 80 °C different preparations with Si and MNPs retained 40% of their initial activity after 6 h of incubation whereas the soluble enzyme lost 90% of its initial activity within 11 min. Integration of MNPs provided the advantage of reusing the biocatalyst via magnetic separation up to six times with residual activity. The hybrid material produced herein demonstrated its versatility and robustness as a support for β-Glucuronidases immobilization.

In Situ Immobilization of Enzymes in Biomimetic Silica

In this chapter we describe different strategies for enzyme immobilization in biomimetic silica nanoparticles. Synthesis of this type of support is performed under mild and biocompatible conditions and has been proven suitable for the immobilization and stabilization of a range of enzymes and enzymatic systems in nanostructured particles. Immobilization occurs by entrapment while the silica matrix is formed via catalysis of a polyamine molecule and the presence of silicic acid. Parameters such as enzyme, polyamine molecule, or source of Si concentration have been tailored in order to maximize enzymatic loads, stabilities, and specific activities of the catalysts. We provide different approaches for the immobilization and co-immobilization of enzymes that could be potentially extensible to other biocatalysts.

Functional Macromolecule-Enabled Colloidal Synthesis: From Nanoparticle Engineering to Multifunctionality

The synthesis of well-defined inorganic colloidal nanostructures using functional macromolecules is an enabling technology that offers the possibility of fine-tuning the physicochemical properties of nanomaterials and has contributed to a broad range of practical applications. The utilization of functional reactive polymers and their colloidal assemblies leads to a high level of control over structural parameters of inorganic nanoparticles that are not easily accessible by conventional methods based on small-molecule ligands. Recent advances in polymerization techniques for synthetic polymers and newly exploited functions of natural biomacromolecules have opened up new avenues to monodisperse and multifunctional nanostructures consisting of integrated components with distinct chemistries but complementary properties. Here, the evolution of colloidal synthesis of inorganic nanoparticles is revisited. Then, the new developments of colloidal synthesis enabled by functional macromolecules and practical applications associated with the resulting optical, catalytic, and structural properties of colloidal nanostructures are summarized. Finally, a perspective on new and promising pathways to novel colloidal nanostructures built upon the continuous development of polymer chemistry, colloidal science, and nanochemistry is provided.

Design of stable magnetic hybrid nanoparticles of Si-entrapped HRP

Hybrid and composite nanoparticles represent an attractive material for enzyme integration due to possible synergic advantages of the structural builders in the properties of the nanobiocatalyst. In this study, we report the synthesis of a new stable hybrid nanobiocatalyst formed by biomimetic silica (Si) nanoparticles entrapping both Horseradish Peroxidase (HRP) (EC 1.11.1.7) and magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs). We have demonstrated that tailoring of the synthetic reagents and post immobilization treatments greatly impacted physical and biocatalytic properties such as an unprecedented ~280 times increase in the half-life time in thermal stability experiments. The optimized nanohybrid biocatalyst that showed superparamagnetic behaviour, was effective in the batch conversion of indole-3-acetic acid, a prodrug used in Direct Enzyme Prodrug Therapy (DEPT). Our system, that was not cytotoxic per se, showed enhanced cytotoxic activity in the presence of the prodrug towards HCT-116, a colorectal cancer cell line. The strategy developed proved to be effective in obtaining a stabilized nanobiocatalyst combining three different organic/inorganic materials with potential in DEPT and other biotechnological applications.

Interactions between Metal Oxides and Biomolecules: from Fundamental Understanding to Applications

Metallo-oxide (MO)-based bioinorganic nanocomposites promise unique structures, physicochemical properties, and novel biochemical functionalities, and within the past decade, investment in research on materials such as ZnO, TiO₂, SiO₂, and GeO₂ has significantly increased. Besides traditional approaches, the synthesis, shaping, structural patterning, and postprocessing chemical functionalization of the materials surface is inspired by strategies which mimic processes in nature. Would such materials deliver new technologies? Answering this question requires the merging of historical knowledge and current research from different fields of science. Practically, we need an effective defragmentation of the research area. From our perspective, the superficial accounting of material properties, chemistry of the surfaces, and the behavior of biomolecules next to such surfaces is a problem. This is particularly of concern when we wish to bridge between technologies in vitro and biotechnologies in vivo. Further, besides the potential practical technological efficiency and advantages such materials might exhibit, we have to consider the wider long-term implications of material stability and toxicity. In this contribution, we present a critical review of recent advances in the chemistry and engineering of MO-based biocomposites, highlighting the role of interactions at the interface and the techniques by which these can be studied. At the end of the article, we outline the challenges which hamper progress in research and extrapolate to developing and promising directions including additive manufacturing and synthetic biology that could benefit from molecular level understanding of interactions occurring between inanimate (abiotic) and living (biotic) materials.

Blueprints for the Next Generation of Bioinspired and Biomimetic Mineralised Composites for Bone Regeneration

Coccolithophores are unicellular marine phytoplankton, which produce intricate, tightly regulated, exoskeleton calcite structures. The formation of biogenic calcite occurs either intracellularly, forming ‘wheel-like’ calcite plates, or extracellularly, forming ‘tiled-like’ plates known as coccoliths. Secreted coccoliths then self-assemble into multiple layers to form the coccosphere, creating a protective wall around the organism. The cell wall hosts a variety of unique species-specific inorganic morphologies that cannot be replicated synthetically. Although biomineralisation has been extensively studied, it is still not fully understood. It is becoming more apparent that biologically controlled mineralisation is still an elusive goal. A key question to address is how nature goes from basic building blocks to the ultrafine, highly organised structures found in coccolithophores. A better understanding of coccolithophore biomineralisation will offer new insight into biomimetic and bioinspired synthesis of advanced, functionalised materials for bone tissue regeneration. The purpose of this review is to spark new interest in biomineralisation and gain new insight into coccolithophores from a material science perspective, drawing on existing knowledge from taxonomists, geologists, palaeontologists and phycologists.

Sol-gel Silica Nanoparticles in Medicine: A Natural Choice. Design, Synthesis and Products

Silica is one of the most abundant minerals in the Earth's crust, and over time it has been introduced first into human life and later into engineering. Silica is present in the food chain and in the human body. As a biomaterial, silica is widely used in dentistry, orthopedics, and dermatology. Recently amorphous sol-gel SiO₂ nanoparticles (NPs) have appeared as nanocarriers in a wide range of medical applications, namely in drug/gene target delivery and imaging diagnosis, where they stand out for their high biocompatibility, hydrophilicity, enormous flexibility for surface modification with a high payload capacity, and prolonged blood circulation time. The sol-gel process is an extremely versatile bottom-up methodology used in the synthesis of silica NPs, offering a great variety of chemical possibilities, such as high homogeneity and purity, along with full scale pH processing. By introducing organic functional groups or surfactants during the sol-gel process, ORMOSIL NPs or mesoporous NPs are produced. Colloidal route, biomimetic synthesis, solution route and template synthesis (the main sol-gel methods to produce monosized silica nanoparticles) are compared and discussed. This short review goes over some of the emerging approaches in the field of non-porous sol-gel silica NPs aiming at medical applications, centered on the syntheses processes used.

A Flexible Caterpillar-Like Gold Nanoparticle Assemblies with Ultrasmall Nanogaps for Enhanced Dual-Modal Imaging and Photothermal Therapy

Gold nanoparticle (AuNP) assemblies (GNAs) have attracted attention since enhanced coupling plasmonic resonance (CPR) emerged in the nanogap between coupling AuNPs. For one dimensional GNAs (1D-GNAs), most CPR from the nanogaps could be easily activated by electromagnetic waves and generate drastically enhanced CPR because the nanogaps between coupling AuNPs are linearly distributed in the 1D-GNAs. The reported studies focus on the synthesis of 1D-GNAs and fundamental exploration of CPR. There are still problems which impede further applications in nanomedicine, such as big size (>500 nm), poor water solubility, and/or poor stability. In this study, a kind of 1D flexible caterpillar-like GNAs (CL-GNAs) with ultrasmall nanogaps, good water solubility, and good stability is developed. The CL-GNAs have a flexible structure that can randomly move to change their morphology, which is rarely reported. Numerous ultrasmall nanogaps (<1 nm) are linearly distributed along the structure of CL-GNAs and generate enhanced CPR. The toxicity assessments in vitro and vivo respectively demonstrate that CL-GNAs have a low cytotoxicity and good biocompatibility. The CL-GNAs can be used as an efficient photothermal agent for photothermal therapy, a probe for Raman imaging and photothermal imaging.

Autonomous Synthesis of Fluorescent Silica Biodots Using Engineered Fusion Proteins

Formation of biological materials is a well-controlled process that is orchestrated by biomolecules such as proteins. Proteins can control the nucleation and mineralization of biomaterials, thereby forming the hard tissues of biological organisms, such as bones, teeth, and shells. In this study, the design and implementation of multifunctional designer proteins are demonstrated for fluorescent silica micro/nanoparticle synthesis. The R5 motif of silaffin polypeptide, which is known for its silicification capability, was fused genetically into three spectrally distinct fluorescent proteins with the intention of forming modified fluorescent proteins. The bifunctional R5 peptide domain served as a tag to provide silica synthesis at ambient conditions. Three functional fusion constructs have been prepared, including GFPmut3-R5, Venus YFP-R5, and mCherry-R5. Recombinant fluorescent proteins were purified using silica-binding peptide tag through silica gel resin. Purified proteins were tested for their binding affinity to silica using quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring to make sure they can interact strong enough with the silica surfaces. Later, engineered fluorescent proteins were used to synthesize silica nano/microparticles using silica precursor materials. Synthesized silica particles were investigated for their fluorescence properties, including time-resolved fluorescence. Additionally, elemental analysis of the particles was carried out using electron energy loss spectroscopy and energy-filtered transmission electron microscopy. Last, they were tested for their biocompatibility. In this study, we aimed to provide a biomimetic route to synthesize fluorescent silica nanoparticles. Recombinant fluorescent proteins-directed silica nanoparticles synthesis offers a one-step, reliable method to produce fluorescent particles both for biomaterial applications and other nanotechnology applications.

Pathway-dependent gold nanoparticle formation by biocatalytic self-assembly

We report on the use of non-equillibrium biocatalytic self-assembly and gelation to guide the reductive synthesis of gold nanoparticles. We show that biocatalytic rates simultaneously dictate supramolecular order and presentation of reductive phenols which in turn results in size control of nanoparticles that are formed.

Construction of core-shell hybrid nanoparticles templated by virus-like particles

Catalytically active gold in silica core–shell nanoparticles are prepared by pH controlled templating on virus-like particles.

Atelocollagen-templated fabrication of tangled fibrous silica

Protein-templated structured silica and titania are fabricated via a biomimetic method based on the synergistic effect of amine/carboxyl complexes under ambient conditions. Atelocollagen-templated silica showed a tangled fibrous structure with a smooth surface. The number of carboxyl groups of a protein is an important factor for homogeneous silica growth.

Immobilized Biocatalyst for Detection and Destruction of the Insensitive Explosive, 2,4-Dinitroanisole (DNAN)

Accurate and convenient detection of explosive components is vital for a wide spectrum of applications ranging from national security and demilitarization to environmental monitoring and restoration. With the increasing use of DNAN as a replacement for 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) in insensitive explosive formulations, there has been a growing interest in strategies to minimize its release and to understand and predict its behavior in the environment. Consequently, a convenient tool for its detection and destruction could enable development of more effective decontamination and demilitarization strategies. Biosensors and biocatalysts have limited applicability to the more traditional explosives because of the inherent limitations of the relevant enzymes. Here, we report a highly specific, convenient and robust biocatalyst based on a novel ether hydrolase enzyme, DNAN demethylase (that requires no cofactors), from a Nocardioides strain that can mineralize DNAN. Biogenic silica encapsulation was used to stabilize the enzyme and enable it to be packed into a model microcolumn for application as a biosensor or as a bioreactor for continuous destruction of DNAN. The immobilized enzyme was stable and not inhibited by other insensitive munitions constituents. An alternative method for DNAN detection involved coating the encapsulated enzyme on cellulose filter paper. The hydrolase based biocatalyst could provide the basis for a wide spectrum of applications including detection, identification, destruction or inertion of explosives containing DNAN (demilitarization operations), and for environmental restorations.

Self-assembled peptide nanostructures for functional materials

Nature is an important inspirational source for scientists, and presents complex and elegant examples of adaptive and intelligent systems created by self-assembly. Significant effort has been devoted to understanding these sophisticated systems. The self-assembly process enables us to create supramolecular nanostructures with high order and complexity, and peptide-based self-assembling building blocks can serve as suitable platforms to construct nanostructures showing diverse features and applications. In this review, peptide-based supramolecular assemblies will be discussed in terms of their synthesis, design, characterization and application. Peptide nanostructures are categorized based on their chemical and physical properties and will be examined by rationalizing the influence of peptide design on the resulting morphology and the methods employed to characterize these high order complex systems. Moreover, the application of self-assembled peptide nanomaterials as functional materials in information technologies and environmental sciences will be reviewed by providing examples from recently published high-impact studies.

Biomimetic catalysis of metal–organic frameworks

Recent advances in biomimetic catalysis of MOFs have been summarized and reviewed.

Self-assembling extracellular matrix proteins as materials for the condensation of silica nanostructures

A synthetic strategy is described to repurpose human extracellular matrix protein binding domains to catalyse the condensation of silica nanostructures in water for a seamlessly integrated biocomposite material.