Nanoparticles are finding increasing roles in biotechnology for applications as contrast agents, probes, sensors, therapeutics and increasingly new value-added hybrid materials such as molecular logic devices. In most cases these materials must be conjugated to different types of biologicals such as proteins or DNA to accomplish this. However, most traditional methods of bioconjugation result in heterogeneous attachment and loss of activity. Bioorthogonal chemistries and in particular enzymatic labeling chemistries offer new strategies for catalyzing specific biomolecular attachment. We highlight current enzymatic labeling methods available for bioconjugating nanoparticles, some materials they have been used with, and how the resulting bioconjugates were applied. A discussion of the benefits and remaining issues associated with this type of bioconjugation chemistry and a brief perspective on how this field will develop is also provided.
Published by Elsevier Ltd.