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A Bioarmored Enzyme Cascade for Sustained Catalysis in Harsh Microenvironments
Yahui Wen1,2, Keqiang Lai2, Jing Jin1
1Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian116023, China.
ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces
|August 13, 2026
Summary
This study developed a bioarmored enzyme cascade using a villus-structured hydrogel to protect enzymes like alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) in harsh environments, enhancing acetaldehyde metabolism.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Engineering
- Enzyme Therapeutics
- Biocatalysis
Background:
- Enzyme therapeutics face challenges in harsh physiological conditions like the stomach, leading to denaturation and loss of function.
- Existing biomaterials struggle to protect enzymes while maintaining substrate accessibility, limiting their therapeutic potential.
- Acetaldehyde detoxification is a critical application hindered by enzyme instability in vivo.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a novel bioarmoring strategy for stabilizing fragile enzymes in hostile biological microenvironments.
- To create a dual-enzyme system (alcohol dehydrogenase and aldehyde dehydrogenase) encapsulated within a protective hydrogel architecture.
- To evaluate the efficacy of this bioarmored cascade for acetaldehyde metabolism under acidic conditions.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of a villus-structured hydrogel (ADH/ALDH@VH) using a collagen-based microscale grid.
- Encapsulation of alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) within the hydrogel's artificial villus architecture.
- Assessment of enzyme stability, mechanical robustness, and catalytic efficiency under simulated gastric conditions.
Main Results:
- The villus-structured hydrogel provided a hierarchical protective shell, enhancing mechanical stability and preventing enzyme denaturation.
- The bioarmored enzymes (ADH/ALDH@VH) exhibited significantly improved catalytic efficiency (Kcat/Km increased ~1.1-fold) compared to free enzymes.
- ADH/ALDH@VH maintained high activity in acidic gastric conditions, achieving a 3020% enhancement in acetaldehyde metabolism.
Conclusions:
- The bioarmored enzyme cascade strategy successfully reconciles enzyme protection with catalytic efficiency in harsh environments.
- This approach offers a generalizable platform for developing robust enzyme therapeutics for previously inaccessible biological niches.
- The developed ADH/ALDH@VH system demonstrates significant potential for acetaldehyde detoxification applications.
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