Aqueous core and hollow silica nanocapsules for confined enzyme modules

Abstract

The development of enzyme modules by coupling several enzymes in confinement is of paramount importance to artificial biological reaction systems for efficient enzymatic reactions. Silica nanocapsules are ideal candidates for loading enzymes. Aqueous core silica nanocapsules have relatively been rarely reported due to the crux of difficulty in forming dense silica shells by interfacial sol–gel reactions. Herein we suggest a one-step synthesis of hollow silica nanocapsules with an aqueous core containing enzymes via a template-free and interfacial condensation method for developing enzyme modules with coupled enzymatic reactions. As a proof-of-concept, we developed enzyme modules for three useful purposes by encapsulating a couple of enzymes: (i) development of a miniature glucose sensor, (ii) protection of living cells, and (iii) regeneration of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotides (NADs). By the modulation of enzymes using silica nanocapsules, more efficient coupled reactions, separation of enzymatic reactions from surroundings, and easy handling of several enzymes by using a single module could be achieved. Therefore, our silica nanocapsules for enzyme modules can be promoted as general platforms for developing artificial nanoreactors.