Preparation and application of solvent-free liquid proteins with enhanced thermal and anhydrous stabilities

Abstract

Chemical modification of proteins to yield solvent-free liquid proteins has been demonstrated to be a robust method for stabilizing proteins against temperature, aggregation, and non-aqueous environments. This new class of biomaterial shows exceptional compatibility with ionic liquids, with enzyme architecture preserved and its activity enhanced. This review provides an overview of the work to-date on developing solvent-free liquid proteins and provides a perspective on the current move towards applications such as non-aqueous biocatalysis, therapeutic protein stabilization, and soft functional materials.