title: Enzyme catalysis in organic solvents: a promising field for optical biosensing.
abstract: The ability of enzymes to work in non-aqueous media offers new and almost unexploited possibilities for the development of new optical biosensors. The advantages of performing biocatalytic reactions in non-aqueous media are discussed in relation to their possible application in optical biosensor design. Attention is focused on the factors that influence enzymatic catalysis in organic solvents, including the role of enzyme-associated water, criteria for solvent selection and the alteration of enzyme specificity. Recent examples of relevant applications and future prospects of organic-phase optical biosensing are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical and Analytical Chemistry, University of Oviedo, c/ Julián Clavería 8, E-33006 Oviedo, Spain.
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Díaz-García
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Valencia-González