The present invention relates a hybrid material comprising: a protein matrix comprising the lipase B from Candida antarctica and nanoparticles of copper species selected from: Cu (0), Cu.sub.2O Cu.sub.3(PO.sub.4).sub.2 or any combination thereof, having their larger dimension between 3 and 15 nm. The material was prepared by the use of an enzyme in a buffer solution and a copper salt at room temperature. The material shows excellent catalase-like activity, excellent catalytic capacity in the degradation of organic pollutants, like Bisphenol A, and in the reduction of 4-nitrophenol to 4-aminophenol.

A hierarchical catalyst composition comprising a continuous or particulate macroporous scaffold in which is incorporated mesoporous aggregates of magnetic nanoparticles, wherein an enzyme is embedded in mesopores of the mesoporous aggregates of magnetic nanoparticles. Methods for synthesizing the hierarchical catalyst composition are also described. Also described are processes that use the recoverable hierarchical catalyst composition for depolymerizing lignin, remediation of water contaminated with aromatic substances, polymerizing monomers by a free-radical mechanism, epoxidation of alkenes, halogenation of phenols, inhibiting growth and function of microorganisms in a solution, and carbon dioxide conversion to methanol. Further described are methods for increasing the space time yield and/or total turnover number of a liquid-phase chemical reaction that includes magnetic particles to facilitate the chemical reaction, the method comprising subjecting the chemical reaction to a plurality of magnetic fields of selected magnetic strength, relative position in the chemical reaction, and relative motion.

[Problem] To provide a novel artificial protein catalyst that enables the protection of a catalyst from substances in vivo and has potential usefulness in therapeutic in vivo synthetic chemistry.

[Solution] Provided is a complex of a protein and a catalyst selected from a metal catalyst or organic catalyst. In the complex according to the present invention, the protein is a protein having a hydrophobic pocket in the three-dimensional structure thereof, and the catalyst is housed in the hydrophobic pocket so that the catalyst is not or substantially not exposed to a hydrophilic environment.

A blood treatment method includes the steps of inducing flow of a patient's blood through an extracorporeal device inlet and outlet in fluid connection to the circulatory system of the patient. Metastatic DNA contained within patient blood can be rendered non-oncogenic by passing patient blood over a biochemical reactor surface having attached or immobilized DNase 1 enzyme, with the biochemical reactor being contained within the extracorporeal device. The treatment method is performed without adding any chemicals to the blood of the patient.

A pathogen detection method includes forming nanoparticles, extracting adenosine triphosphate (ATP) by causing the nanoparticles to collide with pathogens, collecting the pathogens having collided with the nanoparticles, and detecting a light-emitting reaction formed by a reaction with the ATP.

The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for forming a lignin fraction from crude lignin which has been processed by means of a treatment step selected from enzymatic treatment, treatment with ionic liquid and their combinations. The method comprises treating the crude lignin (1) by a lignin liberation in at least one lignin liberation step (3), and separating a lignin fraction (6) in at least one separation step (5). Further, the invention relates to a lignin composition and its use.

Maintaining functionality in a device reliant on active biocatalysts. A water-impermeable container has one or more biocatalysts mixed and packed with stabilizers to function as a slow-release device. Depending on its adjustable geometries the device will provide a modifiable trickle of biocatalysts into a liquid released from a dry and stable state.

Provided herein are stimulus-responsive polymer microgelator particles that can activate fibrin fiber formation from their surfaces by actively ejecting thrombin to form an interconnected fibrin network with an increased elastic modulus and desirable microstructure. The use of the microgelators enables the decoupling of gelation rate and gel rigidity.

The present invention provides magnetic macroporous polymeric hybrid scaffolds for supporting and enhancing the effectiveness of bionanocatalysts (BNC). The novel scaffolds comprise cross-linked water-insoluble polymers and an approximately uniform distribution of embedded magnetic microparticles (MMP). The cross-linked polymer comprises polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and optionally additional polymeric materials. The scaffolds may take any shape by using a cast during preparation of the scaffolds. Alternatively, the scaffolds may be ground to microparticles for use in biocatalytic reactions. Alternatively, the scaffolds may be shaped as beads for use in biocatalyst reactions. Methods for preparing and using the scaffolds are also provided.

The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for forming a lignin fraction from crude lignin which has been processed by means of a treatment step selected from enzymatic treatment, treatment with ionic liquid and their combinations. The method comprises treating the crude lignin (1) by a lignin liberation in at least one lignin liberation step (3), and separating a lignin fraction (6) in at least one separation step (5). Further, the invention relates to a lignin composition and its use.