Protecting Peptide-based Biomimetic Catalysts Through Porous Material Cladding

Work done in the lab of Prof. Rahul Banerjee at Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research (IISER) Kolkata.

About author

Ashok Kumar Mahato is a Ph.D. student under the supervision of Prof. Rahul Banerjee in the Department of Chemical Sciences at the Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research Kolkata (IISER-K). Ashok Mahato completed his B.Sc. degree from Raghunathpur College in Sidho-Kanho-Birsha University and his M.Sc. degree from the Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science (IACS) Kolkata.

His current research work focuses on the development of new porous materials and designing new methodologies to stabilize biocatalysts under harsh conditions.

Interview

How would you explain your research outcomes to the non-scientific community?

Nature has evolved various efficient complex systems to accomplish biological processes such as photosynthesis, metabolism, biomineralization, etc., providing sustainable outcomes. Biomimetic chemistry is intended to develop various systems which mimic biological processes. Researchers have been trying to utilize the principles of biological systems to synthesize useful products and design efficient systems for sustainable outcomes. The modern-day, evolved enzymes are highly efficient in performing challenging chemical transformations with selectivity. Numerous artificial systems such as biomimetic catalysts have been developed to perform a myriad of chemical transformations. Peptide-based biomimetic catalysts are also very well known for their enzyme-like catalytic activity. However, the fragile nature of such biomimetic catalysts under non-aqueous media and harsh conditions limits their practical applications. To overcome this issue, we have developed a cladding technique with highly porous material for protecting the catalysts. The porous materials can protect the biomimetic catalysts like a cell membrane, allowing the small molecules to pass through. The porous material-cladded biomimetic catalysts could perform a retro-aldolase enzymatic activity in both aqueous and non-aqueous media. Hence, the cladding method could provide a promising approach for the industrial application of biomimetic catalysts.

How do these findings contribute to your research area?

The development of the cladding technique and the advanced materials could help overcome the instability issues of peptide-based biomimetic catalysts. Porous materials, like Covalent Organic Frameworks (COFs), are very well-known for their versatile applications in gas storage, molecular separation, optoelectronics, catalysis, etc. We have utilized the COFs with high stability and porous nature for protecting biomimetic catalysts under harsh conditions. The peptide-based biomimetic catalysts access diverse structures like nanotubes, fibers, helices, etc., which catalyze various biochemical reactions. We have developed a cladding technique to grow COFs on nanotubular biomimetic catalysts and performed the biochemical transformations in non-aqueous media. It has been a prevailing challenge to stabilize the peptide-based biomimetic catalysts in non-aqueous media. Our findings, the cladding technique with COFs, would help to overcome the stability issue of the peptide-based biomimetic catalysts.

“Our findings, the cladding technique with COFs, would help to overcome the stability issue of the peptide-based biomimetic catalysts.”

What was the exciting moment during your research?

Developing new systems and smart materials to overcome a real challenge in science, has always been inspiring and exciting. The fragile nature of the peptide-based biomimetic catalysts prohibits their catalytic activity in non-aqueous media. Integration of biomimetic catalysts with stable and porous materials provides a practical solution to the long-standing challenge. The successful accomplishment of the COF cladding on the biomimetic catalysts, as seen in the electron microscopy images, was really exciting. TEM (transmission electron microscopy) images showed the beautiful hollow-tubular nature of the porous material-cladded biomimetic catalysts.

What do you hope to do next?

I am highly motivated to design new systems and new materials to achieve the catalytic activity of enzymes and biocatalysts. Currently, I am trying to develop a new methodology with COFs to stabilize biocatalysts and perform their catalytic activity in harsh conditions. It is expected that this development would be helpful to industrialize biocatalysts.

Where do you seek scientific inspiration from?

Mother nature has always been the greatest source of inspiration. Evolution for billions of years has led nature to develop the most efficient biological systems for sustainable outcomes. Therefore, the development of an efficient material for bio-catalysis is really exciting.

How do you intend to help Indian science improve?

Collaborative research works are always helpful in executing new ideas in science. Collaboration with experts from different backgrounds would be advantageous in exploring new properties and applications of materials. Industrial collaboration is also very crucial to overcome several real life challenges.

Reference

Mahato A K, Pal S, Dey K, Reja A, Paul S, Shelke A, Ajithkumar T G, Das D, Banerjee R. Covalent Organic Framework Cladding on Peptide-Amphiphile-Based Biomimetic Catalysts. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2023, 145, 23, 12793–12801. https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/jacs.3c03562

Copy Editor

Nikita Nimbark

PostGrad in Biotechnology

Nikita Completed her PostGrad in Biotechnology. She has interest in Bioinformatics. Her hobbies include travelling and calligraphy. She is always up for new challenges.

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