Enzyme encapsulated hollow silica nanospheres for intracellular biocatalysis

Feng Peng Chang, Yann Hung, Jen Hsuan Chang, Chen Han Lin, Chung Yuan Mou

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

107 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Hollow silica nanospheres (HSN) with low densities, large interior spaces and permeable silica shells are suitable for loading enzymes in the cavity to carry out intracellular biocatalysis. The porous shell can protect the encapsulated enzymes against proteolysis and attenuate immunological response. We developed a microemulsion-templating method for confining horseradish peroxidase (HRP) in the cavity of HSN. This simple one-pot enzyme encapsulation method allows entrapping of the enzyme, which retains high catalytic activity. Compared with HRP supported on solid silica spheres, HRP@HSN with thin porous silica shells displayed better enzyme activity. The small HRP@HSN (∼50 nm in diameter), giving satisfactory catalytic activity, can act as an intracellular catalyst for the oxidation of the prodrug indole-3-Acetic acid to produce toxic free radicals for killing cancer cells. We envision this kind of hollow nanosystem could encapsulate multiple enzymes or other synergistic drugs and function as therapeutic nanoreactors.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)6883-6890
Number of pages8
JournalACS Applied Materials and Interfaces
Volume6
Issue number9
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - May 14 2014
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • enzyme delivery
  • hollow silica nanospheres
  • horseradish peroxidase
  • intracellular biocatalysis
  • nanoreactors

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Materials Science

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