title: Self-assembly of a catalytic multivalent peptide-nanoparticle complex.
abstract: Catalytically active peptide-nanoparticle complexes were obtained by assembling small peptide sequences on the surface of cationic self-assembled monolayers on gold nanoparticles. When bound to the surface, the peptides accelerate the transesterification of the p-nitrophenyl ester of N-carboxybenzylphenylalanine by more than 2 orders of magnitude. The gold nanoparticle serves as a multivalent scaffold for bringing the catalyst and substrate into close proximity but also creates a local microenvironment that further enhances the catalysis. The supramolecular nature of the ensemble permits the catalytic activity of the system to be modulated in situ.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Davide
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zaramella
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Scrimin
authors.forename: Leonard J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Prins