Functionalized Two-Dimensional MoS2 with Tunable Charges for Selective Enzyme Inhibition

Recent advances in the synthesis and functionalization of two-dimensional (2D) nanomaterials have allowed us to explore their interaction with biological systems. 2D nanomaterials, owing to their unique layered structure and a high surface-to-volume ratio, are very promising systems for various biological applications. Transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) are a unique class of 2D nanomaterials known for their easy surface functionalization using thiol ligands. Interactions of functionalized MoS2, a TMD, with different proteins are worth exploring as that might give us an overall insight about the interaction of these materials with bio-macromolecules. Here, we have chemically exfoliated MoS2 and functionalized it with surface groups having different charges (negative, neutral, positive, and zwitterionic). Interaction of these functionalized MoS2 with two model proteins, chymotrypsin (ChT) and β-galactosidase (β-gal), were explored. Positively charged MoS2 inhibited the enzymatic activity of β-gal, wher...