Claims

1. A composition comprising:(a) nanoparticles; and(b) proteins, wherein said proteins are bound to said nanoparticles and said nanoparticles have external surfaces whose radius of curvature is within 2 orders of magnitude of the dimensions of each of said proteins bound to said nanoparticles, such that the stability of said bound proteins is greater than the stability of said proteins bound to surfaces of the same material as that of said nanoparticles but which forms a flat surface.

2. The composition of claim 1, wherein said protein stability is higher than on a flat support in a liquid medium other than an aqueous medium at neutral pH, an aqueous medium at normal salinity, or an aqueous medium at a temperature between about 20° C. and 40° C.

3. The composition of claim 2, wherein said liquid medium is selected from the group consisting of an aqueous medium at a temperature greater than about 40° C., less than about 10° C., an aqueous medium whose pH is less than about pH 6.5, an aqueous medium whose pH is greater than about pH 7.5, an aqueous medium with a salinity of at least about 0.3 M NaCl, a non-aqueous medium, and combinations thereof.

4. The composition of claim 1, wherein said nanoparticles are selected from the group consisting of single-walled carbon nanotubes, multi-walled carbon nanotubes, gold or other metallic nanoparticles, semi-conducting nanoparticles, metal oxide nanoparticles, quantum dots, funtionalized silica, and mixtures thereof.

5. The composition of claim 1, wherein said proteins are bound to said nanoparticles through hydrophobic bonding, hydrophilic bonding, ionic bonding, covalent bonding, and non-covalent bonding.

6. The composition of claim 1, wherein said protein is an enzyme.

7. An article of manufacture comprising the composition of claim 1 bound to a macroscopic surface.

8. The article of manufacture of claim 7, wherein said macroscopic surface is selected from the group consisting of a polymer, a polymeric film, a metal, a metal alloy, and combinations thereof.

9. The article of manufacture of claim 7, wherein said article is incorporated in a member of the group consisting of a biosensor, a biochip, a biofuel cell, a drug delivery system, an antimicrobial film, a paint antifouling film, and a lubricant antifouling film.

10. A method of making a device containing a composition which can enzymatically act on one or more substances in a solution comprising:(a) bonding one or more enzyme species to nanoparticles, wherein said nanoparticles have external surfaces whose radius of curvature is within 2 orders of magnitude of the dimensions of each said enzyme bound to each said nanoparticle, such that the activity of said enzymes is greater than the activity of said enzymes bound to surfaces of the same material as that of said nanoparticles but which forms a flat surface, thereby forming said composition; and(b) attaching said composition to a working surface of said device where said working surface will be in contact with said solution when the enzyme activity of said enzymes is desired;thereby forming the device.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the solvent of said solution is not an aqueous medium at neutral pH, an aqueous medium at normal salinity, or an aqueous medium at a temperature between about 20° C. and 40° C. when said working surface is in contact with said solution.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said solvent is selected from the group consisting of an aqueous medium at a temperature greater than about 40° C., less than about 10° C., an aqueous medium whose pH is less than about pH 6.5, an aqueous medium whose pH is greater than about pH 7.5, a liquid hydrocarbon medium, an aqueous medium with a salinity of at least about 0.3 M NaCl, and combinations thereof.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein said nanoparticles are selected from the group consisting of single-walled carbon nanotubes, multi-walled carbon nanotubes, gold or other metallic nanoparticles, semi-conducting nanoparticles, metal oxide nanoparticles, quantum dots, funtionalized silica, and mixtures thereof.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein said enzymes are bound to said nanoparticles through hydrophobic bonding, hydrophilic bonding, ionic bonding, covalent bonding, and non-covalent bonding.

15. A method of detecting an analyte in a solution comprising:(a) contacting said solution containing said analyte with a composition comprising (i) nanoparticles, and (ii) enzymes, wherein said enzymes are bound to said nanoparticles and said nanoparticles have external surfaces whose radius of curvature is within 2 orders of magnitude with the dimensions of each said enzyme bound to said nanoparticles, such that the activity of said bound enzymes is greater than the activity of said enzymes bound to surfaces of the same material as that of said nanoparticles but which forms a flat surface, and further wherein said analyte is a substrate for said enzymes;(b) allowing said enzymes to enzymatically act on said analyte, thereby forming a product that is detectable by external means; and(c) detecting said product by said external means, thereby detecting said analyte.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said enzyme activity is maintained in a liquid medium other than an aqueous medium at neutral pH, an aqueous medium at normal salinity, or an aqueous medium at a temperature between about 20° C. and 40° C. when said working surface is in contact with said solution.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said liquid medium is selected from the group consisting of an aqueous medium at a temperature greater than about 40° C., less than about 10° C., an aqueous medium whose pH is less than about pH 6.5, an aqueous medium whose pH is greater than about pH 7.5, a liquid hydrocarbon medium, an aqueous medium with a salinity of at least about 0.3 M NaCl, and combinations thereof.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein said nanoparticles are selected from the group consisting of single-walled carbon nanotubes, multi-walled carbon nanotubes, gold or other metallic nanoparticles, semi-conducting nanoparticles, metal oxide nanoparticles, quantum dots, funtionalized silica, and mixtures thereof.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein said enzymes are bound to said nanoparticles through hydrophobic bonding, hydrophilic bonding, ionic bonding, covalent bonding, and non-covalent bonding.

20. A method of reducing the fouling of a surface by a substance present in a solution comprising:(a) contacting said solution containing said substance with said surface wherein a composition is attached to said surface, said composition comprising (i) nanoparticles, and (ii) enzymes, wherein said enzymes are bound to said nanoparticles and said nanoparticles have external surfaces whose radius of curvature is within 2 orders of magnitude of the dimensions of each said enzyme bound to said nanoparticles, such that the stability of said bound enzymes is greater than the stability of said enzymes bound to surfaces of the same material as that of said nanoparticles but which forms a flat surface, and further wherein said substance is a substrate for said enzymes; and(b) allowing said enzymes to enzymatically degrade said substance, thereby reducing the amount of said substance in said solution and the fouling adherence of said substance to said surface.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein said enzyme activity is maintained in a liquid medium other than an aqueous medium at neutral pH, an aqueous medium at normal salinity, or an aqueous medium at a temperature between about 20° C. and 40° C. when said working surface is in contact with said solution.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein said liquid medium is selected from the group consisting of an aqueous medium at a temperature greater than about 40° C., less than about 10° C., an aqueous medium whose pH is less than about pH 6.5, an aqueous medium whose pH is greater than about pH 7.5, a liquid hydrocarbon medium, an aqueous medium with a salinity of at least about 0.3 M NaCl, and combinations thereof.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein said nanoparticles are selected from the group consisting of single-walled carbon nanotubes, multi-walled carbon nanotubes, gold or other metallic nanoparticles, semi-conducting nanoparticles, metal oxide nanoparticles, quantum dots, funtionalized silica, and mixtures thereof.

24. The method of claim 20, wherein said enzymes are bound to said nanoparticles through hydrophobic bonding, hydrophilic bonding, ionic bonding, covalent bonding, and non-covalent bonding.