Enzyme-Compatible Dynamic Nanoreactors from Electrostatically Bridged Like-Charged Surfactants and Polyelectrolytes

Martin J. Thiele, Mehdi D. Davari, Isabell Hofmann, Melanie König, Carlos G. Lopez, Ljubica Vojcic, Walter Richtering, Ulrich Schwaneberg, Larisa A. Tsarkova

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

20 Scopus citations

Abstract

Reported is an unanticipated mechanism of attractive electrostatic interactions of fully neutralized polyacrylic acid (PAA) with like-charged surfactants. Amphiphilic polymer-surfactant complexes with high interfacial activity and a solubilization capacity exceeding that of conventional micelles are formed by bridging with Ca2+ ions. Incorporation of a protease into such dynamic nanoreactors results in a synergistically enhanced cleaning performance because of the improved solubilization of poorly water-soluble immobilized proteins. Competitive interfacial and intermolecular interactions on different time- and length-scales have been resolved using colorimetric analysis, dynamic tensiometry, light scattering, and molecular dynamic simulations. The discovered bridging association mechanism suggests reengineering of surfactant/polymer/enzyme formulations of modern detergents and opens new opportunities in advancing labile delivery systems.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)9402-9407
Number of pages6
JournalAngewandte Chemie - International Edition
Volume57
Issue number30
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 20 2018

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Catalysis
  • General Chemistry

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