Polymers as Encapsulating Agents and Delivery Vehicles of Enzymes

Abstract

Enzymes are versatile biomolecules with broad applications. Since they are biological molecules, they can be easily destabilized when placed in adverse environmental conditions, such as variations in temperature, pH, or ionic strength. In this sense, the use of protective structures, as polymeric capsules, has been an excellent approach to maintain the catalytic stability of enzymes during their application. Thus, in this review, we report the use of polymeric materials as enzyme encapsulation agents, recent technological developments related to this subject, and characterization methodologies and possible applications of the formed bioactive structures. Our search detected that the most explored methods for enzyme encapsulation are ionotropic gelation, spray drying, freeze-drying, nanoprecipitation, and electrospinning. α-chymotrypsin, lysozyme, and β-galactosidase were the most used enzymes in encapsulations, with chitosan and sodium alginate being the main polymers. Furthermore, most studies reported high encapsulation efficiency, enzyme activity maintenance, and stability improvement at pH, temperature, and storage. Therefore, the information presented here shows a direction for the development of encapsulation systems capable of stabilizing different enzymes and obtaining better performance during application.

Nanoencapsulation of Eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) Peel Extract in Electrospun Gelatin Nanofiber: Preparation, Characterization, and In Vitro Release

“…EE of eggplant peel extract-loaded electrospun gelatin nanofibers based on the phenolic compound quantification test was 92 and 94% for 33.3 and 20 mg mL −1 , respectively. To have a process with high encapsulation efficiency, da Pereira et al [44] described several key points, such as having a low solubility of the polymer to be used, high solubility of the solvent in water, high concentration of the polymer, having a high evaporation rate of the solvent and rapid solidification of the particles. Likewise, Horuz and Belibagli [17] performed a nanoencapsulation using zein obtaining results of more than 90% encapsulation, indicating very little loss of compounds using electrospinning.…”