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Enzyme Shielding in an Enzyme‐thin and Soft Organosilica Layer
Author(s) -
Correro M. Rita,
Moridi Negar,
Schützinger Hansjörg,
Sykora Sabine,
Ammann Erik M.,
Peters E. Henrik,
Dudal Yves,
Corvini Philippe F.X.,
Shahgaldian Patrick
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
angewandte chemie
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1521-3757
pISSN - 0044-8249
DOI - 10.1002/ange.201600590
Subject(s) - enzyme , layer (electronics) , electromagnetic shielding , materials science , silane , chemistry , chemical engineering , nanotechnology , organic chemistry , composite material , engineering
The fragile nature of most enzymes is a major hindrance to their use in industrial processes. Herein, we describe a synthetic chemical strategy to produce hybrid organic/inorganic nanobiocatalysts; it exploits the self‐assembly of silane building blocks at the surface of enzymes to grow an organosilica layer, of controlled thickness, that fully shields the enzyme. Remarkably, the enzyme triggers a rearrangement of this organosilica layer into a significantly soft structure. We demonstrate that this change in stiffness correlates with the biocatalytic turnover rate, and that the organosilica layer shields the enzyme in a soft environment with a markedly enhanced resistance to denaturing stresses.