Immobilization of Enzymes on Functionalized Magnetic Nanoparticles for Efficient Biocatalysis

Abstract

In recent decades, magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) have received increasing attention in bio-related research, especially in the field of biocatalysis. This is due to several distinct properties of these particles, which are high surface area to volume ratio, special magnetic behavior, high dispersibility in solvents, and various functionalities. Immobilization of enzymes on functionalized MNPs could give the nano-biocatalyst with maintained free enzyme activity, less mass transfer limitation, higher stability, and easy recyclability under magnetic field. This thesis developed novel methods for fabricating active, stable and recyclable nano-biocatalysts in green oxidation, enantioselective synthesis for pharmaceutical manufacturing, or biodiesel preparation from waste feedstock.

Three different approaches were demonstrated. 1) Immobilization of chloroperoxidase on MNPs by covalent binding. 2) One-pot purification and immobilization of epoxide hydrolase on Ni-NTA functionalized MNPs via affinity attachment. 3) Immobilization of lipase on several polymer-based MNPs for biodiesel production using physical adsorption, covalent binding, or hybrid methods of both.