Enzymes Get a Stability Boost with New COF Technique

Enzymes are like tiny workers in our body, speeding up chemical reactions. But they can get tired or damaged easily. Scientists found a way to protect them using something called covalent organic frameworks (COFs). Think of COFs as tiny, strong boxes that can hold enzymes safely inside. The team used a simple, one-step method in water to put enzymes inside these COFs. They tested it with different enzymes, like β-glucosidase (BGL) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP). They even checked if the enzymes were still active and could be used again and again. To make sure the enzymes were really inside the COFs, they used special tools like solid-state 2D NMR and scattering-type scanning near-field optical microscopy (s-SNOM). These tools helped them see the tiny interactions between the enzymes and the COFs. The COFs did a great job protecting the enzymes. For example, BGL stayed stable even in harsh conditions with a lot of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS). This means the enzymes can work better and longer, even in tough environments. This new method is a big deal because it shows how we can make enzymes more stable and reusable. It's like giving them a super shield to work better and longer.