Spatiotemporal regulation of chemical reactions using only audible sound

In studies that mimic natural systems, spatiotemporal regulation of multistep enzyme reactions is essential. A team led by Director Kim Kimoon at the Center for Self-assembly and Complexity has developed a way to separate the different enzymes in compartments. Nature Communications has their study in it.

Sound is used in physics, materials science, and other fields, but rarely in chemistry. In chemical reactions, audible sound has not been used because of its low energy. For the first time, the same group from theIBS had successfully demonstrated the spatiotemporal regulation of chemical reactions through aselective dissolution of atmospheric gases via standing waves generated by audible sound back in 2020.

The solution was separated and not mixed together because the different layers were blocked by an invisible wall, when they closely observed the movement of the solution after the audible sound. The solution created by audible sound pseudo-compartmentalization was used to control cascade reaction networks in a solution. The flow of fluid in a container vibrating up and down by audible sound does not mix with each other around the wave, and as a result, the solution becomes naturally compartmentalized.

The group used this phenomenon to try to regulate multistep enzyme reactions. Kim's group showed that audible sound can be used to create artificial compartments, which is normally done using lipids or polymers. They designed a system that took advantage of the fact that oxygen in the air is dissolved in the antinode region of the vibrating solution.

Kim's Group performed a multistep reaction composed of GOx and HRP. GOx is the first step in the process of making hydrogen peroxide. The second step involves the oxidation of ABTS dye into ABTS radical and the use of peroxide. The researchers would know that the system worked as it was intended if there was a specific color in the solution.

The authors were able to visually observe the ring patterns, which showed that they succeeded in controlling the GOx-HRP cascade reaction using only audible sound. The method can be extended to control the self-assembly of nanoparticles within the solution. Figure 3A. The preparation of nanoparticle patterned hydrogels, which contained self-assembled particles only in selected regions, was also presented by the authors. The gels can be used in cell growth platforms.

This new approach using audible sound will provide a totally new and reliable strategy to control chemical processes within predictable yet Transiently generated pseudo-compartments within a solution.

More information: Cascade reaction networks within audible sound induced transient domains in a solution, Nature Communications (2022). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-30124-x Journal information: Nature Communications Citation: Spatiotemporal regulation of chemical reactions using only audible sound (2022, May 2) retrieved 2 May 2022 from https://phys.org/news/2022-05-spatiotemporal-chemical-reactions-audible.html This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.