An Artificial Compartmentalized Biocatalytic Cascade System Constructed With Enzyme-Caged Reticulate Nanoporous Membranes

Abstract

Compartmentalization is a ubiquitous feature of life, with a membrane interface that regulates molecular transport and exhibits bioactivities. An artificial enzyme-integrated membrane cascade system can mimic such interactive properties across different length scales for in vitro application. Here, it is shown that a reticulated nanoporous framework membrane with nano-caged enzymes presents the first modular macroscale platform for the compartmentalized biocatalytic system interfaced with an external medium. Catalase (CAT)-integrated polyurea membrane scaffold is prepared by a simple pressurization procedure for a model cyclic cascade of glucose oxidase/catalase (GOx/CAT). The bicontinuous nanoporous membrane readily constructs a compartmentalized system interfacing the glucose/GOx solution and the external environment and mediates glucose oxidation by a cascade reaction under anaerobic or aerobic conditions. Furthermore, the membrane compartment exhibits multiple bioactive capabilities and barrier properties, including hydrogen peroxide detoxification, in situ oxygen generation, and protease exclusion. This work suggests a new strategy toward a robust modular biocatalytic membranous interface to mediate biochemical reaction cascades occurring in a compartment interfaced to an external environment, promising for potential applications in biohybrid devices embedded with tissues and cells.