Peptide-anchored gold nanoparticles with bicatalytic sites for photo-switchable cascade catalysis

Abstract Due to the difference in multiple catalytic sites of cascade catalysts, it is still a challenge to accurately adjust different catalytic sites to adapt to each step of the catalytic process in the cascade reaction. Here, we report a peptide = anchored gold nanoparticle cascade catalyst self-assembled by host–guest (cyclodextrin–azobenzene) interaction. The catalyst can complete photo-switchable cascade catalysis in one pot. The self-assembled peptides can be used as an esterase mimic to catalyze the hydrolysis of 4-nitrophenyl acetate to 4-nitrophenol. Under UV irradiation, the self-assembled peptides disassemble and gold nanoparticles then catalyze the reduction of 4-nitrophenol to 4-aminophenol. This study provides a new way to design catalytically active peptide–gold nanoparticle conjugates as cascade catalysts.