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Synthesis of Anionic Nanogels for Selective and Efficient Enzyme Encapsulation
Jiaying Ni1, Yuting Wan1, Ying Cai1
1Shanghai Key Laboratory of Multiphase Materials Chemical Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, People's Republic of China.
Langmuir : the ACS Journal of Surfaces and Colloids
|February 25, 2022
Summary
Anionic poly(acrylic acid) nanogels were synthesized for enzyme encapsulation. These nanogels efficiently load and activate cationic enzymes like cytochrome c, showing enhanced activity.
Area of Science:
- Polymer Chemistry
- Materials Science
- Biotechnology
Background:
- Polyelectrolyte nanogels offer a soft, charged environment suitable for enzyme encapsulation.
- Developing efficient methods for synthesizing nanogels with controlled properties is crucial for applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize well-defined poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) nanogels using electrostatic assembly directed polymerization (EADP).
- To investigate the effects of pH, salt concentration, and cross-linking degree on nanogel preparation.
- To evaluate the nanogels' capacity for loading and activating cationic enzymes.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis of PAA nanogels via EADP using a cationic-neutral diblock copolymer template.
- Systematic investigation of control factors (pH, salt concentration, cross-linking degree).
- Enzyme loading capacity determination for cytochrome c and lysozyme.
- Enzyme activity assay using steady-state kinetics.
Main Results:
- Optimal conditions for PAA nanogel preparation using EADP were established.
- PAA nanogels demonstrated high loading capacities for cytochrome c (100 μg/mg) and lysozyme (125 μg/mg).
- Encapsulated cytochrome c exhibited a 2-fold enhanced activity, indicating a favorable microenvironment.
Conclusions:
- EADP provides a facile strategy for synthesizing anionic nanogels with controlled properties.
- PAA nanogels are effective for the selective and efficient encapsulation and activation of cationic enzymes.
- The developed nanogels show promise for biotechnological applications requiring enzyme stabilization and activity enhancement.
