Aptamer-Modified Cu(2+)-Functionalized C-Dots: Versatile Means to Improve Nanozyme Activities-“Aptananozymes”

[Image: see text] The covalent linkage of aptamer binding sites to nanoparticle nanozymes is introduced as a versatile method to improve the catalytic activity of nanozymes by concentrating the reaction substrates at the catalytic nanozyme core, thereby emulating the binding and catalytic active-site functions of native enzymes. The concept is exemplified with the synthesis of Cu(2+) ion-functionalized carbon dots (C-dots), modified with the dopamine binding aptamer (DBA) or the tyrosinamide binding aptamer (TBA), for the catalyzed oxidation of dopamine to aminochrome by H(2)O(2) or the oxygenation of l-tyrosinamide to the catechol product, which is subsequently oxidized to amidodopachrome, in the presence of H(2)O(2)/ascorbate mixture. Sets of structurally functionalized DBA-modified Cu(2+) ion-functionalized C-dots or sets of structurally functionalized TBA-modified Cu(2+) ion-functionalized C-dots are introduced as nanozymes of superior catalytic activities (aptananozymes) toward the oxidation of dopamine or the oxygenation of l-tyrosinamide, respectively. The aptananozymes reveal enhanced catalytic activities as compared to the separated catalyst and respective aptamer constituents. The catalytic functions of the aptananozymes are controlled by the structure of the aptamer units linked to the Cu(2+) ion-functionalized C-dots. In addition, the aptananozyme shows chiroselective catalytic functions demonstrated by the chiroselective-catalyzed oxidation of l/d-DOPA to l/d-dopachrome. Binding studies of the substrates to the different aptananozymes and mechanistic studies associated with the catalytic transformations are discussed.