Interplay Between the Conductivity of Polymer-Brush Functionalized Core-Shell Particles and Their Enzyme Loading Efficiency and Activity

Title data

Cai, Hongtao ; Antony, Anila ; Linhardt, Anne ; Formánek, Petr ; Ionov, Leonid ; Synytska, Alla:
Interplay Between the Conductivity of Polymer-Brush Functionalized Core-Shell Particles and Their Enzyme Loading Efficiency and Activity.
In: Journal of Polymer Science. Vol. 63 (2025) Issue 21 . - pp. 4403-4416.
ISSN 2642-4169
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/pol.20250059

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Abstract in another language

Polymer brush-modified core-shell particles are already known as good carriers for enzymes, which can improve enzyme activity and stability compared to free enzymes1. However, for application in electrochemical biosensors, electron transfer between the electrode and immobilized enzyme is important. To achieve this, the materials used should combine the high enzyme loading of the polymer brush-modified particles with reasonable conductivity. In this work, two different approaches to introduce conductivity and high enzyme loading into polymer brush functionalized hybrid particles are pursued. In the first approach, conductive nanoparticles (Ag and Au) and enzymes were incorporated into poly(2(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate) brush shells on silica particle cores. In the second approach, conductive Ag particles were synthesized (as a core material), then grafted with PDMAEMA brush shell and afterwards loaded with enzymes. Polymer grafting density, polymer chain length, as well as the position of the conductive component either in the core or in the shell of hybrid particles showed an influence on the final particles’ conductivity and loading enzyme (Laccase from Trametes versicolor) capacities. This fundamental study clarifies an interplay between the conductivity of polymer-brush functionalized core-shell particles and their enzyme loading efficiency and catalytic activity.