Amalgamation of DNAzyme and Nanozyme in a Coronazyme

Artificial enzymes such as nanozymes and DNAzymes are economical and stable alternatives to natural enzymes. By coating Au nanoparticles (AuNP) with DNA corona (AuNP@DNA), we amalgamated nanozyme and DNAzyme into a new artificial enzyme with catalytic efficiency five times higher than AuNP nanozymes, ten times higher than other nanozymes, and significantly greater than most of the DNAzymes on the same oxidation reaction. The AuNP@DNA demonstrates excellent specificity as its reactivity on a reduction reaction does not change. Single-molecule fluorescence and force spectroscopies and DFT simulation indicate a long-range oxidation reaction initiated by radical production on the AuNP surface, followed by radical transportation to the DNA corona, where the binding and turnover of substrates take place. The AuNP@DNA is named coronazyme because of its close natural enzyme mimicking through the well-orchestrated structures and synergetic functions. By incorporating different nanocores and various corona materials beyond DNA, we anticipate the coronazymes represent generic enzyme mimics to carry out versatile reactions in harsh environments.