Properties and applications of proteins encapsulated within sol–gel derived materials

The last decade has seen a revolution in the area of sol–gel-derived materials since the demonstration that these materials can be used to encapsulate biological species such as enzymes, antibodies and other proteins in a functional state. The interactions between the biomolecule and the inorganic, organic or hybrid nanocomposite material determines the degree to which the biomolecule retains its native properties, and such interactions can be …