Enzymes immobilization onto magnetic nanoparticles to improve industrial and environmental applications

Osama M.Darwesh^a, Sameh S.Ali^b,c, Ibrahim A.Matter^a, Tamer Elsamahy^c, Yehia A.Mahmoud^b

Agriculture Microbiology Department, National Research Centre, Dokki, Cairo, Egypt.

Abstract

Enzymes as specific natural biocatalysts are present in all living organisms and they play a key role in the biochemical reactions inside, as outside the cell. Despite the wide range of environmental, medical, agricultural, and food applications, the high cost, non-reusability, and limited stability of soluble (non-immobilized) enzymes are considered barriers to their commercial application. Immobilization techniques are an effective strategy for solving problems associated with free enzymes in terms of improving the efficiency and stability of catalytic enzymes, as well as enhancing their separation and reusability in continuous industrial applications. Out of different supporting materials, magnetic nanoparticles are considered as the future trend for enzyme immobilization due to their exceptional properties regarding stabilization, easy recovery and reuse. Some recent techniques of enzyme immobilization on magnetic nanoparticles will be detailed hereafter in the chapter.

Keywords: Enzymes, Immobilization, Magnetic nanoparticles, Industrial and environmental applications.