title: Affinity-Driven Immobilization of Proteins to Hematite Nanoparticles.
abstract: Functional nanoparticles are valuable materials for energy production, bioelectronics, and diagnostic devices. The combination of biomolecules with nanosized material produces a new hybrid material with properties that can exceed the ones of the single components. Hematite is a widely available material that has found application in various sectors such as in sensing and solar energy production. We report a single-step immobilization process based on affinity and achieved by genetically engineering the protein of interest to carry a hematite-binding peptide. Fabricated hematite nanoparticles were then investigated for the immobilization of the two biomolecules C-phycocyanin (CPC) and laccase from Bacillus pumilus (LACC) under mild conditions. Genetic engineering of biomolecules with a hematite-affinity peptide led to a higher extent of protein immobilization and enhanced the catalytic activity of the enzyme.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Biointerfaces, Empa, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology , Lerchenfeldstrasse 5, 9014 St. Gallen, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Elaheh
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Zare-Eelanjegh
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for High Performance Ceramics, Empa, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology , Überlandstrasse 129, 8600 Dübendorf, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Debajeet K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Bora
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Advanced Fibers, Empa, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology , Lerchenfeldstrasse 5, 9014 St. Gallen, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rupper
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for High Performance Ceramics, Empa, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology , Überlandstrasse 129, 8600 Dübendorf, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Krisztina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Schrantz
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Biointerfaces, Empa, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology , Lerchenfeldstrasse 5, 9014 St. Gallen, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Thöny-Meyer
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Biointerfaces, Empa, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology , Lerchenfeldstrasse 5, 9014 St. Gallen, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Katharina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Maniura-Weber
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Biointerfaces, Empa, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology , Lerchenfeldstrasse 5, 9014 St. Gallen, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Richter
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Biointerfaces, Empa, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology , Lerchenfeldstrasse 5, 9014 St. Gallen, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Greta
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Faccio
keywords: C-phycocyanin; hematite nanoparticle functionalization; immobilization enhances activity; laccase activity; protein immobilization; surface functionalization