Mechanoenzymatic Reactions: Current Applications, Mechanistic Insights, and Future Challenges

In the context of the escalating shortage of global resources, mechanoenzymology has emerged as a transformative platform for the production of economically viable, high-value products. This innovative method employs mechanical force to drive enzyme-catalyzed reactions, demonstrating significant advantages in terms of green chemistry indicators, catalytic efficiency, and process sustainability. It has proven successful in various fields, including food processing, biopharmaceutical, and biomass resources development. The reaction system with solvent minimization has achieved an unprecedented increase in substrate concentration and effectively alleviated the technical bottleneck of the "solid effect" of the reaction substrate. This review focuses on the mechanisms of mechanoenzymatic reactions and introduces methods, such as ball milling, enzyme reactive extrusion, and sonocatalysis. By classification of the types of mechanoenzymatic reactions, it highlights their emerging potential in the fields of food, pharmaceuticals, and the development of agricultural and marine resources. Finally, the current challenges and future development trends of mechanoenzymatic technology are described in detail. This multidisciplinary framework paves the way for significant advances in green and sustainable chemistry, providing innovative solutions to global challenges in food safety and agricultural sustainability.