Immobilization of Small Biomolecules on Mesoporous Materials

Advanced Functions of Nanohybrids of Biomolecules and Mesoporous Materials 

Nanohybrids prepared from biomolecules and mesoporous materials can be used in various applications. In this section, examples of such applications are briefly introduced. 

One of the most promising applications of enzyme-immobilized mesoporous materials is as microscopic reactors. Galameau et al. investigated the effect of mesoporous silica structures and their surface natures on the activity of immobilized lipases [199]. Too hydrophilic (pure silica) or too hydrophobic (butyl-grafted silica) supports are not appropriate for the development of high activity for lipases. An adequate hydrophobic/hydrophilic balance of the support, such as a supported-micelle, provides the best route to enhance lipase activity. They also encapsulated the lipases in sponge mesoporous silicates, a new procedure based on the addition of a mixture of lecithin and amines to a sol-gel synthesis to provide pore-size control. 

This encapsulation procedure gives the highest activity for the lipases. The lecithin/ amines mixture structuring the pore network leads to a suitable phospholipids bilayer-like environment, which avoids the necessity to create an interface by substrate assembly. Monduzzi and coworkers compared the activity of lipase that was immobilized on SBA-15 physically, or chemically with glutardialdehyde [200]. 

Nanohybrids of biomolecules and mesoporous materials have also been used for sensor application. Lin and coworkers also demonstrated gate-controlled molecular 

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