Catalytically Active Peptide–Gold Nanoparticle Conjugates: Prospecting for Artificial Enzymes

Abstract

The self‐assembly of peptides onto the surface of gold nanoparticles has emerged as a promising strategy towards the creation of artificial enzymes. The resulting high local peptide density surrounding the nanoparticle leads to cooperative and synergistic effects, which result in rate accelerations and distinct catalytic properties compared to the unconjugated peptide. This Minireview summarizes contributions to and progress made in the field of catalytically active peptide–gold nanoparticle conjugates. The origin of distinct properties, as well as potential applications, are also discussed.

Biocatalysts Based on Peptide and Peptide Conjugate Nanostructures

“…Other researchers have explored the use of peptides as agents to bind and template nanoparticles such as gold and silver nanoparticles with a diversity of catalytic properties. 198 …”

Ultrasmall Au nanoclusters for bioanalytical and biomedical applications: the undisclosed and neglected roles of ligands in determining the nanoclusters' catalytic activities

“…73 Thirdly, some ligands, especially some proteins, used as shells have their own biocatalytic activities, while stabilizing and protecting the Au(0) core. [74][75][76][77] For example, Au NCs prepared with histidine as shell ligands showed peroxidase-like catalytic activity, 75 while the introduction of bilirubin oxidase (BOD) into Au NCs as the shell ligands endowed the Au NCs with the catalytic activity for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). 76 Lastly, the shell ligands of Au NCs can be further coupled with other functional molecules with biocatalytic activity (e.g., fungicides, 78 folic acid, 79,80 and anticancer drugs 81 ) to form functionally-modified Au NCs, thus enabling the biocatalytic activities of Au NCs.…”