Engineering a Mesoporous Silicon Nanoparticle Cage to Enhance Performance of a Phosphotriesterase Enzyme for Degradation of VX Nerve Agent.

ABSTRACT: The organophosphate (OP)-hydrolyzing enzyme phosphotriesterase (PTE, variant L7ep-3a) immobilized within a partially oxidized mesoporous silicon nanoparticle cage is synthesized and the catalytic performance of the enzyme@nanoparticle construct for hydrolysis of a simulant, dimethyl p-nitrophenyl phosphate (DMNP), and the live nerve agent VX is benchmarked against the free enzyme. In a neutral aqueous buffer, the optimized construct shows a ≈2-fold increase in the rate of DMNP turnover relative to the free enzyme. Enzyme@nanoparticles with more hydrophobic surface chemistry in the interior of the pores show lower catalytic activity, suggesting the importance of hydration of the pore interior on performance. The enzyme@nanoparticle construct is readily separated from the neutralized agent;

SUBMITTER: Lu YS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11672247 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature