Nanomachine Networks: Functional All-Enzyme Hydrogels from Photochemical Cross-Linking of Glucose Oxidase - Dataset

Enzymes are attractive as catalysts due to their specificity and biocompatibility, however their use in industrial and biomedical applications is limited by stability. Here we present a facile approach for enzyme immobilisation within ‘all-enzyme’ hydrogels by forming photochemical covalent cross-links between glucose oxidase. We demonstrate their mechanical properties are dependent on enzyme concentration and the dimeric nature of glucose oxidase results in unusual gel formation behaviour. We quantify enzyme activity of the hydrogel using the Trinder assay. Employing a 1D modelling approach to understand these experimental data shows that the Michaelis constant KM increases, from 18.6 mM to 41 mM and enzymatic specific activity reduces from 137.4 U/mg to 68 U/mg upon hydrogel formation. We suggest that these effects are due to forces on the individual nanoscale enzymes during network formation. This approach provides enormous potential for producing biocatalytic materials with tuneable mechanical properties and high volumetric productivity.