Preparation and enzymatic application of flower-like hybrid microcapsules through a biomimetic mineralization approach

Abstract

Fast and quantitative adsorption of molecules may confer hybrid microcapsules high performance in specific applications, such as biocatalysis, biosensing, drug delivery, and so on. Engineering the chemical/topological structures of the capsule wall renders great potential to achieve this goal. In the present study, flower-like microcapsules are prepared through a biomimetic mineralization approach. Briefly, protein-hybrid microflowers are firstly synthesized through enzyme-induced precipitation of Cu₃(PO₄)₂, which are subsequently utilized as templates for alternative deposition of the protamine layer and the silica layer through biomimetic silicification assisted by layer-by-layer (LbL) assembly. After treatment with EDTA, the flower-like protamine/silica hybrid (FPSH) microcapsules are obtained. Additionally, the hybrid capsule wall also endows the FPSH microcapsules with desirable pH, temperature and storage stability. Hopefully, our approach may provide a promising alternative to increase the efficiency of catalysis, drug delivery, etc.