Application of alginates in cell and enzyme immobilization

Abstract

Enzymes are a particularly versatile class of catalysts that perform and regulate processes in living matter. Enzymatic regio-, chemo- and enantioselectivity were used in industry and in organic synthesis. The common perception is however, that enzymes are sensitive, unstable and have to be used in water, features that are not ideal for a catalyst and undesirable in most syntheses. In many cases a way to avoid at least part of these complaints is to immobilize enzymes. There are several immobilization techniques, and the best means of avoiding any negative influence on the structure of an enzyme is to encapsulate it. Due to its ability to form gel with multivalent cations under relatively mild conditions, alginates are very important in cell and enzyme encapsulation. Entrapment within insoluble alginate gel is recognized as a rapid, nontoxic, inexpensive and versatile method for immobilization of enzymes as well as cells. The resultant gel is biochemically inert and mechanically stable with interstitial spaces that are suitable for cell immobilization.