Advances in 3D Gel Printing for Enzyme Immobilization

Abstract

Incorporating enzymes with three-dimensional (3D) printing is an exciting new field of convergence research that holds infinite potential for creating highly customizable components with diverse and efficient biocatalytic properties. Enzymes, nature’s nanoscale protein-based catalysts, perform crucial functions in biological systems and play increasingly important roles in modern chemical processing methods, cascade reactions, and sensor technologies. Immobilizing enzymes on solid carriers facilitates their recovery and reuse, improves stability and longevity, broadens applicability, and reduces overall processing and chemical conversion costs. Three-dimensional printing offers extraordinary flexibility for creating high-resolution complex structures that enable completely new reactor designs with versatile sub-micron functional features in macroscale objects. Immobilizing enzymes on or in 3D printed structures makes it possible to precisely control their spatial location for the optimal catalytic reaction. Combining the rapid advances in these two technologies is leading to completely new levels of control and precision in fabricating immobilized enzyme catalysts. The goal of this review is to promote further research by providing a critical discussion of 3D printed enzyme immobilization methods encompassing both post-printing immobilization and immobilization by physical entrapment during 3D printing. Especially, 3D printed gel matrix techniques offer mild single-step entrapment mechanisms that produce ideal environments for enzymes with high retention of catalytic function and unparalleled fabrication control. Examples from the literature, comparisons of the benefits and challenges of different combinations of the two technologies, novel approaches employed to enhance printed hydrogel physical properties, and an outlook on future directions are included to provide inspiration and insights for pursuing work in this promising field.

Biocatalytic Membranes for Carbon Capture and Utilization

“…Enzymes are commonly immobilized on solid carriers-membranes being one of the most versatile-to improve their stability, facilitate their reuse, and reduce overall processing and chemical conversion costs [34]. Membranes, as enzyme carriers, can either be fabricated before (pre-existing) or during (formed in situ) the enzyme immobilization process.…”

Structural Strategies of Supramolecular Hydrogels and Their Applications

“…Following the basic design principle of 3D printing, which is to digitally cut a 3D object into multiple thin 2D layers and then recreate that object by depositing materials in a layer-by-layer 2D pattern, suitable structures have been designed for the immobilization of enzymes in a complete framework (post-impression) or incorporated into impression materials during framework fabrication (entrapment) [47].…”

Structural Strategies for Supramolecular Hydrogels and Their Applications

“…Following the basic design principle of 3D printing, which is to digitally cut a 3D object into multiple thin 2D layers and then recreate that object by depositing materials in a layer-by-layer 2D pattern, suitable structures have been designed for the immobilization of enzymes in a complete framework (post-impression) or incorporated into impression materials during framework fabrication (entrapment) [ 53 ].…”