Immobilization of an artificial imine reductase within silica nanoparticles improves its performance

Silica nanoparticles equippedwith an artificial imine reductase display remarkable activity towards cyclic imine- and NAD(+) reduction. The method, based on immobilization and protection of streptavidin on silica nanoparticles, shields the biotinylated metal cofactor against deactivation yielding over 46000 turnovers in pure samples and 4000 turnovers in crude cellular extracts.