Enzymes and Bio-Molecular Assemblies in Nano-Spaces of Mesoporous Silica

The incorporation of bio-molecules and proteins into inorganic host materials has been given great attention recently. The present paper deals with the preparation, structures and properties of conjugates of mesoporous silica: folded sheet mesoporous materials (FSM), with chlorophyll (Mg-porphyrin) and heme (ferriprotoporphyrin). Horseradish peroxidase, light harvesting protein and myoglobin were also adsorbed in mesoporous silica of adequate pore size. The molecules and proteins adsorbed in the mesopores were stabilized according to temperature change, oxidation and/or light irradiation. The porphyrin/FSM conjugates showed characteristic performance resembling that of the light harvest system in natural leaves, myoglobin or catalase. The stabilized proteins in FSM also maintained their own functions. These results suggested that bio-inspired assembly technologies in nanospaces are valuable tools for the design and preparation of catalysts, adsorbents, membranes and energy conversion devices.