Recent advances in fabrication strategies and protein preservation application of protein-nanomaterial hybrids: Integration and synergy

Due to the fragile nature but the irreplaceable role of proteins as analytical tools, the preservation of proteins to minimize their activity and functionality loss is an essential issue for analytical applications. The hybridization of proteins and nanomaterials (protein-nanomaterial hybrids, PN hybrids) integrates diversified merits of proteins and nanomaterials and even shows synergy effects, has paved a new way of significant prospects of protein preservation for storage and operation in a long time and under extreme un-biocompatible environment. Especially, recent years have witnessed the flourish of novel strategies of protein preservation based on PN hybrids consisting of emerging nanomaterials, including metallic nanomaterials, graphene and analogs, and porous frameworks (metal-organic frameworks and covalent organic frameworks). This review covers the fabrication strategies and protein preservation application of new PN hybrids (mainly in past four years). The integration and synergy between proteins and nanomaterials for protein preservation are emphatically summarized and discussed.