Polydopamine/Ethylenediamine Nanoparticles Embedding a Photosynthetic Bacterial Reaction Center for Efficient Photocurrent Generation

Photoactive biohybrid soft nanoparticles are obtained by embedding the Rhodobacter sphaeroides Reaction Center (RC) in polydopamine (PDA) suspended aggregates and treating them with ethylenediamine (EDA). Such PDA:EDA@RC investigated for photocurrent generation photoelectrochemical cells, which able to convert sunlight into electrical energy. The photosynthetic protein retains its structural functional integrity nanostructures exhibit better water dispersity, improved light collection ability, higher compared PDA@RC precursors, where reaction center is embedded pure PDA. hybrid incorporating RC bacterial photoenzyme show charge separated state comparable that of pristine enzyme solution, overcoming main limitation encapsulation PDA, polymer low transmission ability. As a consequence, photocurrents within PDA:EDA environment almost doubled respect PDA@RC. composites described here represent an interesting example effective photoconversion based on biological component addressed tunable biocompatible composite, also showing potential fine chemical tailoring biointerfaces.