An enzyme–copper nanoparticle hybrid catalyst prepared from disassembly of an enzyme–inorganic nanocrystal three-dimensional nanostructure

Abstract

Enzyme–copper phosphate composites with highly porous three-dimentional (3D) structures were first prepared by self-assembly of protein molecules with copper ions in phosphate buffer solution. The self-assembled enzyme–copper phosphate 3D nanostructures were then disassembled by sodium borohydride reduction to produce enzyme-bound copper nanoparticles, which are regarded as 0D nanostructures. Based on the enzyme–copper phosphate composite, which has a high enzymatic activity, the direct transformation of copper phosphate into copper nanoparticles produced an enzyme–copper nanoparticle hybrid catalyst with both high enzymatic activity and copper-catalytic activity, serving as a novel type of hybrid catalyst for chemo-enzymatic cascade reactions.