title: Photocatalytic Reactive Oxygen Species Formation by Semiconductor-Metal Hybrid Nanoparticles. Toward Light-Induced Modulation of Biological Processes.
abstract: Semiconductor-metal hybrid nanoparticles manifest efficient light-induced spatial charge separation at the semiconductor-metal interface, as demonstrated by their use for hydrogen generation via water splitting. Here, we pioneer a study of their functionality as efficient photocatalysts for the formation of reactive oxygen species. We observed enhanced photocatalytic activity forming hydrogen peroxide, superoxide, and hydroxyl radicals upon light excitation, which was significantly larger than that of the semiconductor nanocrystals, attributed to the charge separation and the catalytic function of the metal tip. We used this photocatalytic functionality for modulating the enzymatic activity of horseradish peroxidase as a model system, demonstrating the potential use of hybrid nanoparticles as active agents for controlling biological processes through illumination. The capability to produce reactive oxygen species by illumination on-demand enhances the available peroxidase-based tools for research and opens the path for studying biological processes at high spatiotemporal resolution, laying the foundation for developing novel therapeutic approaches.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Chemistry and the Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology ‡Department of Biological Chemistry and the Edmond and Lily Safra Center of Brain Science, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem , Safra Campus, Givat Ram, Jerusalem 91904, Israel.
authors.forename: Nir
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Waiskopf
authors.affiliation: Institute of Chemistry and the Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology ‡Department of Biological Chemistry and the Edmond and Lily Safra Center of Brain Science, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem , Safra Campus, Givat Ram, Jerusalem 91904, Israel.
authors.forename: Yuval
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ben-Shahar
authors.affiliation: Institute of Chemistry and the Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology ‡Department of Biological Chemistry and the Edmond and Lily Safra Center of Brain Science, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem , Safra Campus, Givat Ram, Jerusalem 91904, Israel.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Galchenko
authors.affiliation: Institute of Chemistry and the Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology ‡Department of Biological Chemistry and the Edmond and Lily Safra Center of Brain Science, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem , Safra Campus, Givat Ram, Jerusalem 91904, Israel.
authors.forename: Inbal
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Carmel
authors.affiliation: Institute of Chemistry and the Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology ‡Department of Biological Chemistry and the Edmond and Lily Safra Center of Brain Science, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem , Safra Campus, Givat Ram, Jerusalem 91904, Israel.
authors.forename: Gilli
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Moshitzky
authors.affiliation: Institute of Chemistry and the Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology ‡Department of Biological Chemistry and the Edmond and Lily Safra Center of Brain Science, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem , Safra Campus, Givat Ram, Jerusalem 91904, Israel.
authors.forename: Hermona
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Soreq
authors.affiliation: Institute of Chemistry and the Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology ‡Department of Biological Chemistry and the Edmond and Lily Safra Center of Brain Science, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem , Safra Campus, Givat Ram, Jerusalem 91904, Israel.
authors.forename: Uri
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Banin
mesh_terms: D001686:Biological Phenomena; D006735:Horseradish Peroxidase / Q000737:chemistry; D008027:Light; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000737:chemistry*; D012666:Semiconductors
chemical_list: D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D006735:Horseradish Peroxidase
keywords: Semiconductor−metal hybrid nanoparticles; peroxidase; photocatalysis; reactive oxygen species