Enhanced enzyme activity through electron transfer between single-walled carbon nanotubes and horseradish peroxidase.

ABSTRACT: Better understanding of electron transfer (ET) taking place at the nano-bio interface can guide design of more effective functional materials used in fuel cells, biosensors, and medical devices. Single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) coupled with biological enzymes serves as a model system for studying the ET mechanism, as demonstrated in the present study. SWCNT enhanced the activity of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) in the solution-based redox reaction by binding to HRP at a site proximate to the enzyme's activity center and participating in the ET process. ET to and from SWCNT was clearly observable using near-infrared spectroscopy. The capability of SWCNT in receiving electrons and the direct attachment of HRP to the surface of SWCNT strongly affected the enzyme activity due to the direct

SUBMITTER: Ren L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3249833 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature