Bioinspired synthesis of nanofibers on monolithic scaffolds for enzyme immobilization with enhanced loading capacity and activity recovery

Abstract

BACKGROUND The enzymatic process in continuous flow reactors has become attractive owing to the merits of in‐line purification, improved mixing and mass transfer, etc. However, the construction of continuous flow reactors requires stable and surface‐active monolithic scaffolds for enzyme immobilization. RESULTS In this study, nanofibers of linear polyethyleneimine (LPEI) are formed on the surface of poly(sodium 4‐styrenesulfonate) (PSS)‐treated cordierite honeycomb (named LPEI/PSS cordierite‐H) as monolithic scaffold for enzyme immobilization. The controlled self‐assembly of LPEI ensures the formation of nanofibers (diameters of 20–80 nm) on the surface of cordierite‐H, which roughens the surface and offers many active sites for enzyme loading. The electrostatic interaction between negatively charged enzyme and positively charged LPEI helps the enzyme firmly attach on the surface. The loading capacity of LPEI/PSS cordierite‐H was 1.24 mg g−1. Horseradish peroxidase (HRP)‐loaded LPEI/PSS cordierite‐H (HRP@LPEI/PSS cordierite‐H) exhibited activity recovery of 55.33%, 2‐fold higher than that of HRP‐loaded branched polyethyleneimine (BPEI)/PSS cordierite‐H (HRP@BPEI/PSS cordierite‐H) (23.72%). Furthermore, a silica layer was formed on the surface of HRP@LPEI/PSS cordierite‐H through LPEI‐induced silicification, which could prevent the enzyme from deactivation under extreme conditions. CONCLUSION These monolithic biocatalysts have great potential for applications in wastewater treatment and even in other fields such as pharmaceutical synthesis. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry

Material Properties Analysis with Addition of Nanofibres for Air Intake Filtration in Internal Combustion Engines

“…Due to their structure, nanofibrous materials have unique properties and offer unexpected possibilities for their technological and commercial applications. This led to the emergence of a large number of research activities involving electrospun nanofibres for different applications such as tissue engineering and drug delivery [29,30], enzyme immobilisation [31], acoustical damping [32], battery electrodes [33], photocatalysis [34], super-capacitors [35]. The achieved nanofibres were always accompanied by some characteristics like the very large surface area to volume ratio, flexibility in surface functionalities, superior mechanical performance, and versatility of design, which made them optimal candidates for a broad range of applications in biomedical device [36], composites [37], sensors [38], water filtration and wastewater treatment [39][40][41], and nano-composite membrane [42].…”

In Focus: Emerging leaders in future materials for energy and environmental applications

“…Immobilization of a catalyst on sustainable and cheap substrates may be a good answer to this challenge. For example, Li et al 2 developed linear nanofibers of linear polyethyleneimine on a surface of poly(sodium 4-styrenesulfonate) scaffold for enzyme immobilization. The construct exploits the electrostatic interaction between charged enzyme and positively charged LPEI which help to achieve high catalyst loadings and prevent enzyme deactivation.…”

“…Immobilization of a catalyst on sustainable and cheap substrates may be a good answer to this challenge. For example, Li et al . developed linear nanofibers of linear polyethyleneimine on a surface of poly(sodium 4‐styrenesulfonate) scaffold for enzyme immobilization.…”

Enzyme immobilisation on wood-derived cellulose scaffolds via carbohydrate-binding module fusion constructs

“…1a). 22 In CFB, reactants are passed over an enzyme-immobilised porous support to produce a continuous product stream which can then be further processed or recovered. Several reviews detailing the merits and drawbacks of CFB have been published recently; 16,[23][24][25] with drawbacks including relatively high cost and non-reusability of some scaffold materials, and loss of enzyme activity over time.…”