Microcapsule modification with peroxidase-catalyzed phenol polymerization

A biocatalytic polymer synthesis on a surface of polyelectrolyte microcapsules was studied. Horseradish peroxidase assembled in nanoorganized capsule walls by alternate adsorption with linear polyions retains its activity in reactions of enzyme-catalyzed polymerization of 4-oxyphenols. It allowed controllable synthesis of a phenolic polymer layer on microcapsule walls using an outermost surface peroxidase layer as a template. By varying the phenol type, buffer pH, and reaction component concentrations, the phenolic polymer coating of the capsules with a thickness in the range 20-50 nm was formed. The polymeric products are fluorescent, which provided a good opportunity for confocal image analysis of the capsule wall structure and the attached layer. The influence of a phenolic polymer layer on the permeability of the capsule walls was investigated.