Growing Metal Nanoparticles by Enzymes

• Published in: Advanced materials (Weinheim) Vol. 18; no. 9; pp. 1109 - 1120
• Main Authors: Willner, I., Baron, R., Willner, B.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Weinheim WILEY-VCH Verlag 02-05-2006; WILEY‐VCH Verlag
• Subjects: Biomolecules; Biosensors; Catalysts; Enzymes; metal; Nanolithography; Nanoparticles; Nanoparticles, metal
• ISSN: 0935-9648; 1521-4095
• DOI: 10.1002/adma.200501865

Enzymes act as catalysts for the growth of metallic nanoparticles (NPs). The enzyme‐mediated growth of metallic NPs provides a general means to follow biocatalyzed transformations, and to develop optical sensors for different substrates such as glucose, L‐DOPA, alcohols, lactate or nerve gas analogs. Enzymes modified with Au NPs act as biocatalysts for the fabrication of metallic nanowires. The dip‐pen nanolithography of NP‐functionalized enzymes on Si surfaces yields biocatalytic templates that enable the orthogonal evolution of nanowires consisting of different metals.
Enzymes catalyze the growth of metallic nanoparticles (NPs, see figure). The enzyme‐mediated growth of metallic NPs provides a general means to follow biocatalyzed transformations and a route to optical sensors for substrates such as glucose, 3,4,dihydroxy‐L‐phenylalamine, L‐DOPA, alcohols, lactate, or nerve‐gas analogs. Dip‐pen nanolithography can be used to pattern enzymes on Si surfaces that template growth of nanowires consisting of different metals.