A biocompatible bottom-up route for the preparation of hierarchical biohybrid materials

Ice-segregation-induced self-assembly is a versatile and biocompatible process that facilitates the preparation of hierarchical biohybrid materials exhibiting a very sophisticated structure with up to six levels of space organization: the ternary structure of esterase, the PVA domains surrounding esterase, the silica cages entrapping the PVA domains, and the macroporous structure resulting from ice segregation (see figure). The resulting materials are attractive for biomedical and sensor applications.