Premium
Catalytic and Electron Conducting Carbon Nanotube–Reinforced Lysozyme Crystals
Author(s) -
ContrerasMontoya Rafael,
Escolano Guillermo,
Roy Subhasish,
LopezLopez Modesto T.,
DelgadoLópez Jose M.,
Cuerva Juan M.,
DíazMochón Juan J.,
Ashkenasy Nurit,
Gavira José A.,
Álvarez de Cienfuegos Luis
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
advanced functional materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 6.069
H-Index - 322
eISSN - 1616-3028
pISSN - 1616-301X
DOI - 10.1002/adfm.201807351
Subject(s) - materials science , carbon nanotube , lysozyme , crystallization , self healing hydrogels , composite number , chemical engineering , conductivity , protein crystallization , bioelectronics , crystal (programming language) , composite material , nanotechnology , polymer chemistry , biosensor , chemistry , biochemistry , computer science , engineering , programming language
Novel reinforced cross‐linked lysozyme crystals containing homogeneous dispersions of single‐walled carbon nanotubes bundles (SWCNTs) are produced and characterized. The incorporation of SWCNTs inside lysozyme crystals gives rise to reinforced composite materials with tunable mechanical strength and electronic conductivity, while preserving the crystal quality and morphology. These reinforced crystals show increased catalytic activity at higher temperatures, being active even above the denaturation temperature. The electron transport through the crystals is linked to the content and distribution of SWCNT bundles inside the crystals. The electron conduction through the crystals is isotropic and very efficient, presenting high conductivity values up to 600 nS at very low (0.05 wt%) SWCNT concentration. To obtain these crystals, a new protocol based on the in situ crystallization of lysozyme in composite SWCNT–peptide hydrogels is developed. These peptide hydrogels are able to homogeneously disperse bundles of hydrophobic SWCNTs allowing first, the crystallization of the enzyme lysozyme and second, transferring the new properties of the inorganic component to the crystals. Taken together, these composite crystals represent an example of the versatility of proteins as biological substrates in the generation of novel functional materials, opening the door to use them in catalysis and bioelectronics at macroscale.