Catalytic Biosensors from Complex Coacervate Core Micelle (C3M) Thin Films

Enzymes have been applied to a variety of industrially and medically relevant chemistries as both catalysts and sensors. Incorporation of proteins and enzymes into complex coacervates has been demonstrated to improve the thermal, chemical, and temporal stability of enzymes in solution. In this work, a neutral-cationic block copolymer and an enzyme, alkaline phosphatase, are incorporated into complex coacervate core micelles (C3Ms) and coated onto a solid substrate to create a biocatalytic film from aqueous solution. The incorporation of photo-cross-linkable groups into the neutral block of the polymer allows the film to be cross-linked under ultraviolet light, rendering it insoluble. The morphology of the film is shown to depend most strongly on the protein loading within the film, while solvent annealing is shown to have a minimal effect. These films are then demonstrated as specific sensors for Zn2+ in solution in the presence of other metals, a model reaction for ion-selective heavy metal biosensing us...