Passivation of nerve agents by surface modified enzymes stabilized by non-covalent immobilization on robust, stable particles

Abstract

Enzymes are modified by incorporating anchor sites for linking the enzymes to a target surface without destroying the catalytic activity of the enzymes. A stable carrier to accommodate and bind the selected enzyme is constructed, and the enzyme is non-covalently liked to the carrier, generally through metal salts of iminodiacetate

1 - 8 . (canceled) 
   
   
       9 . A method of reducing the presence of a contaminant comprising:
 providing a genetically engineered thioesterase capable of reacting with the contaminant to include one or more terminal histidine residues;   attaching the genetically engineered thioesterase to salt groups selected from the group consisting of metal salts of iminodiacetic acid, metal salts of nitrilotriacetic acid, and mixtures thereof on the surface of a particulate inorganic carrier; and   contacting the attached thioesterase with a sample suspected of containing the contaminant.   
   
   
       10 . The method according to  claim 9  wherein the metal salts are selected from the group consisting of copper, nickel, cobalt, and zinc salts. 
   
   
       11 . The method according to  claim 9  wherein the carrier is a metal oxide ceramic particles that can be formed in the Stober process starting with a metal alkoxide precursor. 
   
   
       12 . The method according to  claim 11  wherein the metal oxide particles are selected from the group consisting of silica, alumina, baria, titania, and zirconia. 
   
   
       13 . The method according to  claim 9  wherein the salt groups are metal salts of iminodiacetic acid. 
   
   
       14 . The method according to  claim 9  wherein the salt groups are metal salts of nitrilotriacetic acid. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the thioesterase includes a terminal polyhistidine chain. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the attached thioesterase is capable of detoxifying a nerve agent. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the attached thioesterase is catalytically active. 
   
   
       18 - 19 . (canceled)