Support Materials of Organic and Inorganic Origin as Platforms for Horseradish Peroxidase Immobilization: Comparison Study for High Stability and Activity Recovery

In the presented study, a variety of hybrid and single nanomaterials of various origins were tested as novel platforms for horseradish peroxidase immobilization. A thorough characterization was performed to establish the suitability of the support materials for immobilization, as well as the activity and stability retention of the biocatalysts, which were analyzed and discussed. The physicochemical characterization of the obtained systems proved successful enzyme deposition on all the presented materials. The immobilization of horseradish peroxidase on all the tested supports occurred with an efficiency above 70%. However, for multi-walled carbon nanotubes and hybrids made of chitosan, magnetic nanoparticles, and selenium ions, it reached up to 90%. For these materials, the immobilization yield exceeded 80%, resulting in high amounts of immobilized enzymes. The produced system showed the same optimal pH and temperature conditions as free enzymes; however, over a wider range of conditions, the immobilized enzymes showed activity of over 50%. Finally, a reusability study and storage stability tests showed that horseradish peroxidase immobilized on a hybrid made of chitosan, magnetic nanoparticles, and selenium ions retained around 80% of its initial activity after 10 repeated catalytic cycles and after 20 days of storage. Of all the tested materials, the most favorable for immobilization was the above-mentioned chitosan-based hybrid material. The selenium additive present in the discussed material gives it supplementary properties that increase the immobilization yield of the enzyme and improve enzyme stability. The obtained results confirm the applicability of these nanomaterials as useful platforms for enzyme immobilization in the contemplation of the structural stability of an enzyme and the high catalytic activity of fabricated biocatalysts.

A biocatalytic approach for resolution of 3-hydroxy-3-phenylpropanonitrile with the use of immobilized enzymes stabilized with ionic liquids

Due to the growing importance of synthesizing active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) in enantiomerically pure form, new methods of asymmetric synthesis are being sought. Biocatalysis is a promising technique that can lead to enantiomerically pure products. In this study, lipase from Pseudomonas fluorescens, immobilized on modified silica nanoparticles, was used for the kinetic resolution (via transesterification) of a racemic mixture of 3-hydroxy-3-phenylpropanonitrile (3H3P), where the obtaining of a pure (S)-enantiomer of 3H3P is a crucial step in the fluoxetine synthesis pathway. For additional stabilization of the enzyme and enhanced process efficiency, ionic liquids (ILs) were used. It was found that the most suitable IL was [BMIM]Cl; a process efficiency of 97.4 % and an enantiomeric excess (ee%) of 79.5 % were obtained when 1 % (w/v) of that IL in hexane was applied and the process was catalyzed by lipase immobilized on amine-modified silica.