Artificial metalloenzyme with peroxidase-like activity based on periodic mesoporous organosilica with ionic-liquid framework

Artificial enzymes were developed as alternatives to natural enzymes. Considering the unique characteristics of periodic mesoporous organosilica (PMO) materials, a rational design approach was investigated to simulate the coordination sphere around the iron active center in natural horseradish peroxidase (HRP) and fabricate a new peroxidase-like nanozyme. Well-ordered mesoscopic structure, high surface area, tunable pore size, high thermal-hydrothermal stability, and facile surface functionalization are unique properties of PMOs which allow them be potential candidate for enzyme mimic catalysis. In the present study, a monofunctional PMO with ionicliquid framework (PMO-IL) was prepared as a support to incorporate the iron protoporphyrin IX hemin. The interior surface of mesochannels were also modified by imidazole functional groups. The synthetic peroxidaselike nanomaterial was fully characterized using several techniques such as N2 adsorption-desorption analysis, Thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) spectroscopy, powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDAX). Peroxidase-like activity of the current nanomaterial was evaluated using 2,2 '-Azinobis [3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid]-diammonium salt (ABTS) in the presence of hydrogen peroxide in neutral pH condition. Michaelis-Menten kinetic parameters indicated enhanced affinity toward substrate. Results imply that the biomimetic pathways can be developed to achieve a new generation of nanozymes with excellent thermal stability and long-term storage stability which are promising as peroxidase mimics for various applications.