Design of enzyme micelles with controllable concavo-convex micromorphologies for highly enhanced stability and catalytical activity

Concavo-convex micelles with controllable sizes and nanostructures are prepared via self-assembling polymer-enzyme (e.g., shellac enzyme) conjugates with heterogeneous polymer chains, which exhibit higher enzyme stability (300%) and bioactivity (760%) comparing with the well-defined ones. The applied amphiphilic and negatively charged copolymer, poly (methyl methacrylate)-block-poly (sodium p-styrene sulfonate), is synthesized via reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer polymerization to modify shellac enzyme and immobilize the enzyme bioactivity inducer by covalent conjugation and electrostatic attraction, respectively. The degradation test of catechol confirms the application potential of as-prepared micelles as an efficient and economical decontaminant.