Eco-friendly preparation of a magnetic catalyst for glucose oxidation combining the properties of nanometal particles and specific enzyme

A facile and environmentally friendly preparation of a magnetic catalyst for the aerobic oxidation of glucose, combining the properties of two different catalytically active components—gold nanoparticles and glucose oxidase, was developed. This catalyst was synthesized by simple assembly—by sequential deposition of two oppositely charged polymers (chitosan and alternant copolymer of maleic acid) onto the surface of magnetite particles, this outer layer of this interpolyelectrolyte coating contains nanometal and specific enzyme. The catalyst preparation is reproducible and low cost, which uses no toxic reagents, condensing agents, or solvents at all stages. All components of the catalyst are non-toxic; moreover, most of them are the parts of ecosystem. We carried out an effective aerobic oxidation of glucose to gluconic acid using this catalyst. The work offers a new perspective on the production of different hybrid magnetic catalysts. Graphical abstract