Reversible clustering of magnetic nanobiocatalysts for high-performance biocatalysis and easy catalyst recycling.

Reversible clusters of nanobiocatalysts are developed via non-covalent interaction among enzyme-bound iron oxide magnetic nanoparticles. Dissociation of the clusters by shaking during biotransformation enables high catalytic performance, and re-clustering by stopping shaking after reaction allows for easy magnetic separation. The novel concept is demonstrated with alcohol dehydrogenase RDR for the enantioselective reduction of 7-methoxy-2-tetralone.