Moving into Nanotechnology Roles to Mimic and Boost Enzyme Activity

Abstract

A new tendency toward the design of artificial enzymes based on nanostructures (nanodots, nanofibers, mesoporous materials) has emerged. On one hand, nanotechnology bestows self-catalytic nanoparticles with a specific activity to achieve efficient reactions with low number of by-products. On other hand, the nanoparticles may behave as nanometric scaffolds for hosting enzymes, promoting their catalytic activity and stability. In this case, enzyme immobilization requires the preservation of the catalytic activity by preventing enzyme unfolding and avoiding its aggregation. These approaches render many other advantages like hosting/storing enzymes in nanotechnological solid, liquid, and gel-like media. This chapter focuses on the most up-to-date approaches to manipulate or mimic enzyme activity based on nanotechnology, and offers examples of their applications in the most promising fields. It also gives new insight into the creation of reusable nanotechnological tools for enzyme storage.