Towards Tailored-Enzyme Nano-Reactors for Biotechnology and Life Science

• Applicant: Yuliya Silina, Ph.D.
• Subject Area: Microsystems
• Term: since 2019
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 427949628

This proposal describes the development of task-tailored electrochemical nano-reactors for in situ enzyme activity modulation (1), screening of electroactive metabolite(s) (2) and monitoring of physiological status of living cells (3). The fundamental scientific idea is to electroplate noble metal nanoparticles (NPs) from multiple electrolyte solutions with simultaneous co-deposition of organic molecules, i.e. cofactors and polymers that leads to the solid nanohybrids self-assemblies formation on the electrode. This approach results in the multiple one-pot reactions that can enhance the performance of the hybrid electrodes compared to step-by-step procedures by pushing reaction equilibrium towards the desired product and at the same time reducing the number of operational steps. This approach enables a simple, fast and cost-effective production of electrochemical microanalytical systems upon the requirements of customer-specific tasks with reproducible characteristics. A first proof of concept has already been realized by Dr. Yuliya E. Silina on enzymes co-deposition and will be extended here to novel fundamentals, insights and applications.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants