Preparation and analytical application of mimetic enzyme hemin-loading magnetic silica nanotubes

We report here the preparation and analytical application of mimetic enzyme-loading magnetic silica nanotubes (MSNs), which were synthesized via alumina template membrane method. The nanotubes integrate the advantages of silica nanotubes and superparamagnetic characteristics. Hemin (a peroxidase mimic) was selected as a model for enzyme assays to demonstrate the applicability of these MSNs in enzyme immobilization. The immobilized hemin exhibited excellent catalytic activity and reusability. Using the immobilized hemin as the catalyst, the fluorometric measurement of thiamine has been achieved with a detection limit of 2.5 x 10(-8) mol/L. Our work herein reveals that the surface functionalized MSNs will be a promising platform as biocatalyst carriers.