Advantages Of Enzyme Immobilization

matrix are hydrophilic character, ease of derivatization, However, an important limitation in the use of agarose and other porous supports is the high cost. This problem can be circumvented by employing reversible methods that allow matrix regeneration and re-use. The enzymes can be attached to the support via interactions ranging from reversible physical adsorption and ionic linkages to stable covalent bonds. Let us see Enzyme immobilization methods now Enzyme immobilization methods have been classified into two types. They are

Irreversible enzyme immobilization and

Reversible enzyme immobilization methods. Irreversible enzyme immobilization includes covalent binding, cross-linking and Entrapment. Reversible enzyme immobilization

microencapsulation.

The advantage of entrapment of enzyme immobilization is fast, cheap and only mild conditions are required for reaction process. The disadvantage is that limitation in mass transfer. The support matrix protects the enzymes from microbial contamination, proteins and enzymes in the micro environment. In gel entrapment method, the enzyme molecules can be entrapped in the interstitial spaces of a gel lattice. It is done by polymerization of materials containing enzyme solution. Generally polyacrylamide gel is used which comprises acrylamide as monomer and N, N’ Methylene –bis-acrylamide as crosslinking agent. A method of immobilization of enzymes by entrapment within the microcavities of synthetic fibres has been developed. The advantage of this fibre entrapment method is high surface area for enzyme binding obtained using fine

Enzymes immobilized in this manner are physically contained within the membrane, whilst substrate and product molecules are free to diffuse across the membrane. This method provides the large surface area between polymeric material and the enzyme. The drawback of this method is inactivation of enzyme during encapsulation. An encapsulation technique which can be used for enzyme immobilization is the formation of liposomes, which are formed as lipid membranes, enclose the water droplets. Some of the enzyme will remain in the aqueous solution within the liposomes, while the rest will be incorporated into the membrane.

Methods of Reversible Immobilization The use of reversible methods for enzyme immobilization is highly attractive, mostly for economic reasons because when the enzymatic activity decays, the support can be regenerated and re-loaded with fresh enzyme. The reversible immobilization of enzymes is particularly important for immobilizing labile enzymes and for applications in bioanalytical systems.

Adsorption (Noncovalent