Facile co-assembly process to generate core-shell nanoparticles with functional protein corona

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Biotechnology
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Maintaining protein structure and function in nanomaterials is challenging.
• Polymer-protein interactions are key to developing stable nanostructures.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a protocol for creating stable polymer-protein core-shell nanoparticles (PPCS-NPs).
• To utilize PPCS-NPs as a scaffold for enzyme immobilization and activity enhancement.

Main Methods:

• Self-assembly of proteins onto water-insoluble polymers with pyridine groups.
• Structural analysis using Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM) and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM).
• Immobilization of glucose oxidase (GOX) and horseradish peroxidase (HRP) onto PPCS-NPs.

Main Results:

• Proteins were successfully localized on the corona of PPCS-NPs, preserving their structure and conformation.
• The polymer microenvironment balanced hydrophobicity/hydrophilicity and hydrogen bonding to stabilize proteins.
• The immobilized GOX-HRP bienzymatic system exhibited a ~20% increase in activity compared to free enzymes.

Conclusions:

• A robust method for creating stable PPCS-NPs that maintain protein integrity was established.
• PPCS-NPs offer a versatile platform for biomolecule immobilization and enhancing enzymatic activity.
• This approach can be extended to various biomolecules for diverse applications.