Capturing Enzyme-Loaded Diblock Copolymer Vesicles Using an Aldehyde-Functionalized Hydrophilic Polymer Brush.

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Biochemistry

Background:

• Block copolymer vesicles offer superior chemical stability compared to lipids for enzyme encapsulation.
• Developing robust nanocontainers is crucial for enzyme immobilization in challenging environments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop an efficient method for immobilizing enzyme-loaded block copolymer vesicles onto polymer brushes.
• To investigate the chemical adsorption of cis-diol-functional diblock copolymer vesicles onto aldehyde-functional polymer brushes.
• To demonstrate the functionality of immobilized enzymes within the vesicles.

Main Methods:

• Chemical adsorption of cis-diol-functional diblock copolymer vesicles onto aldehyde-functional polymer brushes via acetal bond formation.
• Quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) studies to quantify adsorption.
• Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and ellipsometry for surface coverage analysis.
• Enzyme loading using polymerization-induced self-assembly and activity assay.

Main Results:

• High adsorption capacity (158 mg m⁻²) of vesicles onto aldehyde brushes, with negligible adsorption onto control brushes.
• Achieved approximately 30% surface coverage, indicating efficient chemical immobilization.
• Successfully loaded horseradish peroxidase (HRP) into vesicles, maintaining enzyme activity and permeability to small molecules.

Conclusions:

• The vesicle-on-brush strategy provides an efficient and versatile platform for immobilizing enzymes.
• This method enables the creation of stable, functional nanoreactors for enzyme-mediated catalysis.
• The approach is adaptable for various enzymes and proteins, paving the way for advanced biocatalysis applications.