Elucidating structure-function relationships in active mesoporous cobalt phosphate materials to extend the lifetime of enzymes

Brian Trewyn

btrewyn@mines.edu

Exploring the structure-function relationship of active materials that can catalyze chemical transformations will translate directly into supports for chemoenzymatic systems. Chemoenzymatic systems have the potential to reduce costs and resources, advantages not frequently observed in current individual, stepwise reactions. However, a critical knowledge gap remains to be investigated is: Can active supports serve as scaffolding to entrap and protect enzymes in a chemoenzymatic system? Can the scaffoldings be fabricated into a 3D porous architecture and what influence does surface modification of active scaffolding have on reactivity? The versatility of mesoporous nanomaterials makes it an excellent design to investigate this fundamental knowledge gap by purposely designing and synthesizing the architecture and reactivity of the catalytically active scaffolding. Specifically, cobalt phosphate (CoP_i) will be fundamentally investigated by tuning the structure and morphology and identifying the effect it has on the hydrogen peroxide decomposition activity that is observed on the material surface. Synthetic methods have advanced to a stage that the interior pore surface, pore morphology, and the exterior surface can be independently modified with organic and inorganic moieties, giving two unique locations for supporting unique catalytic centers to a single CoP_i particle. The transformative nature of this proposal is addressed in the fundamental hypothesis that the structure and morphology of active cobalt phosphate materials will dictate the function and kinetics of catalase-like reactivity. Additionally, progressive education for the next generation of scientists is an important overall objective of this proposal. While this research will offer a fundamental and transformative education for all involve, this technology has huge growth potential with applications in pharmaceutical, agrochemical, and fine-chemical synthesis while limiting waste. Research goals for this project include: 1.) Determine the effect that crystalline structure and porosity of CoP_i has on the catalase-like activity of hydrogen peroxide decomposition. 2.) Fabricate and explore next generation surface modified mesoporous CoP_i (mesoCoP_i) materials with entrapped enzymes.

Grand Challenge: Engineer better medicines.

Brian Trewyn, btrewyn@mines.edu Richard Von Brandt, richard_vonbrandt@mines.edu