Metal-surfactant hybridize living cells to form micro-urchin with high catalytic activity

• Published in: Chemical engineering journal (Lausanne, Switzerland : 1996) Switzerland : 1996), 2021-06, Vol.413, p.127452, Article 127452
• Main Authors: Lu, Qiuhao, Liu, Yi, Tao, Sha, Cao, Xun, Li, Hui, Wang, Xin, Feng, Jiao, Ouyang, Pingkai, Chen, Kequan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biocatalysis; Biomimetic materials; Hybrid cells; Interfaces; Self-assembly
• ISSN: 1385-8947; 1873-3212
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cej.2020.127452

•Self-assembled biocomposites served as a platform for whole-cell catalysis.•The biocomposite can hybridize and load various types of living microorganisms.•The fused structure between cell and nanoparticles improved membrane permeability.•Sea urchin-shaped biocomposite upgraded intracellular enzymatic reactions. The cell membrane, as the supporting structure of cells, maintains the stability of the internal microenvironment of cells for whole-cell catalysis, but is also a barrier in transmembrane transport of substrate and product. However, methods for improving cell membrane permeability are usually accompanied with reduced membrane structural strength. Here, we show that a self-assembled biocomposite formed by Mg2+ ions and sodium deoxycholate (NaDC) can form sea urchin-shaped 3D complexes, incorporating living microbial cells. Cell membrane permeability was significantly improved by a fused structure between cell and Mg(DC)2 nanoparticles without membrane damage. Due to with hydrophobic mesopores, hydrophobic core and disseminated structure, the biocomposite greatly improved catalytic activity (up to 427.3%) of an environment-sensitive P450 enzyme expressed in Escherichia coli, which catalyzed hydroxylation with aromatic hydrocarbon. We also show that the biocomposite successfully improved the membrane permeability of live Bacillus cereus and Saccharomyces cerevisiae, making it a promising application platform for improving membrane permeability in whole-cell catalysis.