different multistep transformations, as for example the dynamic kinetic resolution of
alcohols and amines. The second part of this chapter will offer an overview of
nanometal-enzyme hybrids that are used as bioelectrodes in biofuel cells. This area
of research has grown significantly during the past decades, much because of the
many potential future applications of such devices for medical purposes. Here,
nanometal-enzyme hybrid based biofuel cells hold particular promise for biosensing
applications, as well as for replacing battery-based solutions in actuator devices such
as mechanical valves and pacemakers. In the final part of this chapter, the different
strategies to use bacteria to synthesize metal nanoparticles will be reviewed. As will
be shown by the many examples in this part, biologically synthesized and supported
transition metal nanoparticles constitute interesting catalytic systems that could for
example be used for energy production, pollutant degradation, and small molecule
synthesis.
Keywords catalysis · nanoparticles · nanometal-enzyme hybrids · biofuel cells ·
biosynthesis
1 Introduction
With the rapid progress of the nanotechnology field in the past decades, there has
been an explosion in the number of available methods for interfacing nanomaterials
with biocatalysts or other more complex biological systems. When it comes to the
interfacing of nanocatalysts with enzymes, it has been shown to be a very powerful
strategy for creating efficient hybrid catalytic systems, which display functions that
are more than the sum of their parts [1–3]. Nanoparticles (NPs) or other nanometal
species have, for example, been used to modify the functions of enzymes or stabilize
their structures, which have opened the door to new and more efficient biocatalytic
processes. Conversely, enzymes can be utilized to tailor the structure and catalytic
properties of nanometal species. For instance, enzymes can provide a coordinative
environment that stabilizes nanocatalysts, preventing them from agglomerating.
Because of this intriguing synergy between nanometal species and enzymes, such
hybrid systems have found a wide range of applications related to biosensing,
catalysis, energy production, environmental monitoring, and medicine [2]. However,
researchers in these fields have continued to push the boundaries for the creation
of advanced hybrid systems, and today there also exists a number of examples where
nanomaterials have even been interfaced with complex biological systems such
as living bacteria [4].
The aim of this chapter is to review some selected research topics at the
intersection of nanotechnology and biology. The first part of this chapter will give
an overview of those nanometal-enzyme hybrids that have been used as catalysts
for different organic transformations, and here our intention is to showcase the
current state of the art of the field and outline future research directions. The second
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O. Verho and J.-E. Bäckvall
alcohols and amines. The second part of this chapter will offer an overview of
nanometal-enzyme hybrids that are used as bioelectrodes in biofuel cells. This area
of research has grown significantly during the past decades, much because of the
many potential future applications of such devices for medical purposes. Here,
nanometal-enzyme hybrid based biofuel cells hold particular promise for biosensing
applications, as well as for replacing battery-based solutions in actuator devices such
as mechanical valves and pacemakers. In the final part of this chapter, the different
strategies to use bacteria to synthesize metal nanoparticles will be reviewed. As will
be shown by the many examples in this part, biologically synthesized and supported
transition metal nanoparticles constitute interesting catalytic systems that could for
example be used for energy production, pollutant degradation, and small molecule
synthesis.
Keywords catalysis · nanoparticles · nanometal-enzyme hybrids · biofuel cells ·
biosynthesis
1 Introduction
With the rapid progress of the nanotechnology field in the past decades, there has
been an explosion in the number of available methods for interfacing nanomaterials
with biocatalysts or other more complex biological systems. When it comes to the
interfacing of nanocatalysts with enzymes, it has been shown to be a very powerful
strategy for creating efficient hybrid catalytic systems, which display functions that
are more than the sum of their parts [1–3]. Nanoparticles (NPs) or other nanometal
species have, for example, been used to modify the functions of enzymes or stabilize
their structures, which have opened the door to new and more efficient biocatalytic
processes. Conversely, enzymes can be utilized to tailor the structure and catalytic
properties of nanometal species. For instance, enzymes can provide a coordinative
environment that stabilizes nanocatalysts, preventing them from agglomerating.
Because of this intriguing synergy between nanometal species and enzymes, such
hybrid systems have found a wide range of applications related to biosensing,
catalysis, energy production, environmental monitoring, and medicine [2]. However,
researchers in these fields have continued to push the boundaries for the creation
of advanced hybrid systems, and today there also exists a number of examples where
nanomaterials have even been interfaced with complex biological systems such
as living bacteria [4].
The aim of this chapter is to review some selected research topics at the
intersection of nanotechnology and biology. The first part of this chapter will give
an overview of those nanometal-enzyme hybrids that have been used as catalysts
for different organic transformations, and here our intention is to showcase the
current state of the art of the field and outline future research directions. The second
244
O. Verho and J.-E. Bäckvall