Encapsulated chemical and biological catalysts

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We propose to synthesise a novel particle, which encapsulates a biologically active enzyme. An aqueous core of a few microns will be surrounded with a titania shell made up of particles of about 30 nm in size. These particles will be driven to the edge of the aqueous drop by an electrostatic driving force created by the stabilising surfactant. The entire particle will then be encased in a polymer shell, created by deposition from an external phase. After manufacture, necessarily in an organic media, the particles can be transferred into any desired supporting media.After demonstrating manufacture of these particles, the next stage of the project will be to examine the biological activity. Regimes of mass or reaction transfer limited reaction are expected. Glucose oxidase enzymes have a cofactor (flavin adenine dinucleotide) that is attached to the enzyme and these will reduce dissolved oxygen to hydrogen peroxide. Other enzymes, such as alcohol dehydrogenase have a co-factor (NAD), which is not attached, and as such leaching experiments will form an important area of study.