Sung Gil Hong

Entrapping cross-linked glucose oxidase aggregates within a graphitized mesoporous carbon network for enzymatic biofuel cells.

This paper reports a novel method for producing glucose oxidase-nanocomposites by entrapping cross-linked glucose oxidase (GOx) aggregates within a graphitized mesoporous carbon (GMC) network. Entrapment was achieved by utilizing the strong self-aggregation tendency of GMC in aqueous buffer solution to form carbon networks. Using confocal microscopy and TEM, GOx-GMC nanocomposites were visualized. The electrochemical properties of GOx-GMC nanocomposites were studied by means of cyclic voltammograms, chronoamperometric and potentiostatic tests. Results therefrom suggested that the GOx-GMC nanocomposites offer a high electrical conductivity with the maximum electron transfer rate constant estimated at 5.16±0.61s(-1). Furthermore, thermally treating the GOx-GMC nanocomposite and GOx aggregates at 60°C for four hours, both samples maintained 99% of their initial activity, while the free GOx were completely deactivated. These performances suggested that our nanocomposite structure offered both improved electrochemical performance and stability by combining the high electrical conductivity offered by the GMC network with the high enzyme loading and stability offered by the cross-linked GOx aggregates. The GOx-GMC nanocomposites electrochemical activity towards glucose oxidation was also investigated by using an enzymatic biofuel cell without artificial mediators, producing a power density of up to 22.4μWcm(-2) at 0.24V.

Nanobiocatalysts for Carbon Capture, Sequestration and Valorisation

Extensive efforts are being made to use biocatalysts for addressing an important millennium development goal i.e. global warming/climate change with recourse to CO2 capture valorisation and storage (CCVS). New advanced enzyme-based catalysts with significantly improved catalytic properties and stability have been discussed in detail with specific reference to carbonic anhydrase for biomimetic CO2 sequestration.

One-Pot Enzymatic Conversion of Carbon Dioxide and Utilization for Improved Microbial Growth

We developed a process for one-pot CO2 conversion and utilization based on simple conversion of CO2 to bicarbonate at ambient temperature with no energy input, by using the cross-linking-based composites of carboxylated polyaniline nanofibers (cPANFs) and carbonic anhydrase. Carbonic anhydrase was immobilized on cPANFs via the approach of magnetically separable enzyme precipitate coatings (Mag-EPC), which consists of covalent enzyme attachment, enzyme precipitation, and cross-linking with amine-functionalized magnetic nanoparticles. Mag-EPC showed a half-life of 236 days under shaking, even resistance to 70% ethanol sterilization, and recyclability via facile magnetic separation. For one-pot CO2 conversion and utilization, Mag-EPC was used to accelerate the growth of microalga by supplying bicarbonate from CO2, representing 1.8-fold increase of cell concentration when compared to the control sample. After two repeated uses via simple magnetic separation, the cell concentration with Mag-EPC was maintained as high as the first cycle. This one-pot CO2 conversion and utilization is an alternative as well as complementary process to adsorption-based CO2 capture and storage as an environmentally friendly approach, demanding no energy input based on the effective action of the stabilized enzyme system.

Immobilization of glucose oxidase on graphene oxide for highly sensitive biosensors

Glucose oxidase (GOx) was immobilized onto graphene oxide (GRO) via three different preparation methods: enzyme adsorption (EA), enzyme adsorption and crosslinking (EAC), and enzyme adsorption, precipitation and crosslinking (EAPC). EAPC formulations, prepared via enzyme precipitation with 60% ammonium sulfate, showed 1,980 and 1,630 times higher activity per weight of GRO than those of EA and EAC formulations, respectively. After 59 days at room temperature, EAPC maintained 88% of initial activity, while EA and EAC retained 42 and 45% of their initial activities, respectively. These results indicate that the steps of precipitation and crosslinking in the EAPC formulation are critical to achieve high enzyme loading and stability of EAPC. EA, EAC and EAPC were used to prepare enzyme electrodes for use as glucose biosensors. Optimized EAPC electrode showed 93- and 25-fold higher sensitivity than EA and EAC, respectively. To further increase the sensitivity of EAPC electrode, multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were mixed with EAPC for the preparation of enzyme electrode. Surprisingly, the EAPC electrode with additional 99.5 wt% MWCNTs showed 7,800-fold higher sensitivity than the EAPC electrode without MWCNT addition. Immobilization and stabilization of enzymes on GRO via the EAPC approach can be used for the development of highly sensitive biosensors as well as to achieve high enzyme loading and stability.