Barrier-free liquid condensates of nanocatalysts as effective concentrators of catalysis

Traditional methods of molecular confinement have physicochemical barriers that restrict the free passage of substrates/products. Here, we explored liquid-liquid phase separation as a method to restrain protein-metal nanocomposites within barrier-free condensates. Confinement within liquid droplets was independent of the protein's native conformation and amplified the catalytic efficiency of metal nanocatalysts by one order of magnitude. Enhanced catalysis of nanocatalysts in a confined microenvironment outfitted with liquid-liquid phase separation.