Tailoring Particle‐Enzyme Nanoconjugates for Biocatalysis at the Organic‐Organic Interface

• Published in: ChemSusChem Vol. 13; no. 24; pp. 6523 - 6527
• Main Authors: Sun, Zhiyong, Cai, Meng, Hübner, René, Ansorge‐Schumacher, Marion B., Wu, Changzhu
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Germany Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 17.12.2020
• Subjects: Biodiesel fuels; Biotransformation; biphasic biocatalysis; Emulsions; Enzyme activity; enzyme catalysis; Enzymes; Esterification; Lipase; nanoconjugates; Nanoparticles; nonaqueous Pickering emulsions; Silicon dioxide; solvent-free reactions; Synthesis; Transesterification; enzyme catalysis; biphasic biocatalysis; nonaqueous Pickering emulsions; nanoconjugates; solvent-free reactions
• ISSN: 1864-5631; 1864-564X
• DOI: 10.1002/cssc.202002121

Nonaqueous Pickering emulsions (PEs) are a powerful platform for catalysis design, offering both a large interface contact and a preferable environment for water‐sensitive synthesis. However, up to now, little progress has been made to incorporate insoluble enzymes into the nonaqueous system for biotransformation. Herein, we present biocatalytically active nonaqueous PEs, stabilized by particle‐enzyme nanoconjugates, for the fast transesterification and esterification, and eventually for biodiesel synthesis. Our nanoconjugates are the hybrid biocatalysts tailor‐made by loading hydrophilic Candida antarctica lipase B onto hydrophobic silica nanoparticles, resulting in not only catalytically active but highly amphiphilic particles for stabilization of a methanol‐decane emulsion. The enzyme activity in these PEs is significantly enhanced, ca. 375‐fold higher than in the nonaqueous biphasic control. Moreover, the PEs can be multiply reused without significant loss of enzyme performance. With this proof‐of‐concept, this system can be expanded for many advanced syntheses using different enzymes in the future. Toeing the interface: Enzyme catalysis at the organic‐organic interface is demonstrated in nonaqueous Pickering emulsions (PEs). The PEs are stabilized by tailor‐designed particle‐enzyme nanoconjugates that act as emulsifiers and catalytic sites. The enzyme activity in the nonaqueous PE for transesterification is 375‐fold that of the control. Moreover, this system is applicable to various reactions including solvent‐free biodiesel synthesis with good performance.