Enzyme Catalysis in Non‐Native Environment with Unnatural Selectivity Using Polymeric Nanoreactors

Abstract

The utilization of enzymes for catalysis in organic solvents, while exhibiting selectivity to different substrates, is a big challenge. We report an amphiphilic random copolymer system that self-assembles with enzymes in an organic solvent to form nanoreactors. These encapsulated enzymes are not denatured and they do preserve the catalytic activity. The crosslinkable functional groups in the hydrophobic compartments of the polymers offer to control accessibility to the enzyme. This varied accessibility due to the polymer host, rather than the enzyme itself, endows the nanoreactor with an unnatural selectivity. The findings here highlight the significant potential of simple polymer-based enzyme nanoreactors to execute selective organic reactions under non-native conditions.

Bottle brush star block copolymer nanoreactors for efficient photooxidation catalysis: effects of chain softness

“…One potential strategy to enhance enzyme stability involves creating conjugates between enzymes and synthetic polymers. [14][15][16] The functional group in synthetic supramolecules provides the ability to survive in organic solvent conditions. However, this conjugation often results in a significant decrease in catalytic activity.…”