Beneficial substrate partitioning boosts non-aqueous catalysis in de novo enzyme-alginate beads

Synthetic reactions often involve solvents incompatible with biocatalysts. Here, we encapsulate de novo heme-containing enzymes in calcium-alginate beads to facilitate heterogeneous biocatalysis in organic solvents. After encapsulation, enzymes remained structured and retained activity even when the beads are suspended in organic solvents. Carbene transferase activity, brought about by the heme cofactor, was enhanced when reactions were performed in organic solvent with alginate-encapsulated enzymes. Activity-solvent dependencies revealed that the activity boost is due to beneficial partitioning of the substrate between the beads and organic phase. Encapsulation furthermore facilitates enzyme recycling after the reaction. Alginate encapsulation opens up novel opportunities for biocatalysis in organic solvent systems, combining desired solvent properties of organic chemistry with enzymatic selectivity and proficiency.

Gold nanoparticles standing on PEG/PAMAM/thiol-functionalized nanographene oxide as aqueous catalysts

Gold nanoparticles were aptly in situ grown on PEG/PAMAM/thiol-functionalized nanographene oxide platforms for aqueous catalysis.

Photoelectrochemical study of p-GaP(100)|ZnO|AuNP devices: strategies for enhanced electron transfer and aqueous catalysis

We report a photocathode device consisting of GaP, a metal oxide (Al2O3 or ZnO), a phosphonate-C12-thiol monolayer, and gold nanoparticles (AuNPs).

Thermoresponsive self-assembled cyclodextrin-end-decorated PNIPAM for aqueous catalysis

The catalytic performance of thermoresponsive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) functionalized at the terminal position with randomly methylated β-cyclodextrin was demonstrated by the aqueous Rh-catalysed hydroformylation of higher olefins.