Immobilization of Enzymatic Nanoflowers in Thin Films for Biosensor Development

• Grant number: 24/14903-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate (Direct)
• Start date: June 01, 2025
• End date: May 31, 2029
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Materials and Metallurgical Engineering - Nonmetallic Materials
• Principal Investigator: Laura Oliveira Péres Philadelphi
• Grantee: Cléber Gomes de Jesus
• Host Institution: Instituto de Ciências Ambientais, Químicas e Farmacêuticas (ICAQF). Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP). Campus Diadema. Diadema , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 14/50869-6 - INCT 2014: on Organic Electronics, AP.TEM

Abstract

The advent of nanotechnology, characterized by the miniaturization of materials to enhance device properties and portability, has brought enzymes, essential biological catalysts, into the spotlight with the discovery of enzymatic nanoflowers (ENFs). Although the synthesis and application of ENFs have been reported in the literature, few studies address their immobilization in thin films, an emerging configuration for fixing biological components in biosensors and other devices. Conjugated polymers, due to their optoelectronic properties resulting from alternating double bonds, are used as a matrix to immobilize enzymes while preserving their catalytic properties. Thus, this work proposes to study the interaction between ENFs and conjugated polymers, which will be synthesized and characterized, aiming to immobilize these materials in thin films, such as Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) films, creating supported films with high molecular organization for application in biosensors. The characterization of Langmuir monolayers and LB films will allow for a better understanding of the structure, molecular architecture, and optoelectronic properties resulting from the association of ENFs with conjugated polymers. Additionally, the catalytic capacity of the films will be evaluated through enzymatic analysis assays, comparing the results with existing systems in the literature, and investigating how the molecular-level association of materials can influence the catalytic activity of the enzyme hybrid compound, with the goal of developing a biosensor for the detection and quantitative analysis of urea.