# Capturing Enzyme-Loaded Diblock Copolymer Vesicles Using an Aldehyde-Functionalized Hydrophilic Polymer Brush

> Source page: https://openqcm.com/scientific-papers/capturing-enzyme-loaded-diblock-copolymer-vesicles-using-an-aldehyde-functionalized-hydrophilic-polymer-brush
> Markdown version for AI agents and readers of plain text. Site guide: https://openqcm.com/llms.txt · Everything in one file: https://openqcm.com/llms-full.txt

- Authors: Georgios Karchilakis, Spyridon Varlas, Edwin C Johnson, Oleta Norvilaite, Matthew AH Farmer, George Sanderson, Graham J Leggett, Steven P Armes
- Journal: Langmuir
- Year: 2024
- Volume: 40
- Pages: 14086-14098
- DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.4c01561
- Instrument used: openQCM NEXT

## Abstract

Compared to lipids, block copolymer vesicles are potentially robust nanocontainers for enzymes owing to their enhanced chemical stability, particularly in challenging environments. Herein we report that cis-diol-functional diblock copolymer vesicles can be chemically adsorbed onto a hydrophilic aldehyde-functional polymer brush via acetal bond formation under mild conditions (pH 5.5, 20 °C). Quartz crystal microbalance studies indicated an adsorbed amount, Γ, of 158 mg m–2 for vesicle adsorption onto such brushes, whereas negligible adsorption (Γ = 0.1 mg m–2) was observed for a control experiment conducted using a cis-diol-functionalized brush. Scanning electron microscopy and ellipsometry studies indicated a mean surface coverage of around 30% at the brush surface, which suggests reasonably efficient chemical adsorption. Importantly, such vesicles can be conveniently loaded with a model enzyme (horseradish peroxidase, HRP) using an aqueous polymerization-induced self-assembly formulation. Moreover, the immobilized vesicles remained permeable toward small molecules while retaining their enzyme payload. The enzymatic activity of such HRP-loaded vesicles was demonstrated using a well-established colorimetric assay. In principle, this efficient vesicle-on-brush strategy can be applied to a wide range of enzymes and functional proteins for the design of next-generation immobilized nanoreactors for enzyme-mediated catalysis.

---

openQCM by Novaetech S.r.l., Pompeii, Italy · Buy: https://store.openqcm.com/ · Contact: info@openqcm.com · https://openqcm.com/contacts/