Abstract
A microbioreactor was developed in which selected amine transaminase was immobilized together with the cofactor pyridoxal phosphate (PLP) to allow efficient continuous transamination. The enzyme and cofactor were retained in a porous copolymeric hydrogel matrix formed in a two-plate microreactor with an immobilization efficiency of over 97%. After 10 days of continuous operation, 92% of the initial productivity was retained and no leaching of PLP or enzyme from the hydrogel was observed. The microbioreactor with co-immobilized cofactor showed similar performance with and without the addition of exogenous PLP, suggesting that the addition of PLP is not required during the process. The space-time yield of the microbioreactor was 19.91 g L−1 h−1, while the highest achieved biocatalyst productivity was 5.4 mg mgenzyme −1 h−1. The immobilized enzyme also showed better stability over a wider pH and temperature range than the free enzyme. Considering the time and cost efficiency of the immobilization process and the possibility of capacity expansion, such a system is of great potential for industrial application.
Highlights
Biocatalytic processes are becoming increasingly important in modern chemistry as they enable more environmentally friendly production of various value-added molecules
We have previously reported the use of a copolymer hydrogel of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and alginate to immobilize yeast cells
The pH stability of the free and immobilized transaminase was compared by measuring the enzyme activity after incubation at 25°C for 30 min in Hepes buffer at different pH values between 5 and 10
Summary
Biocatalytic processes are becoming increasingly important in modern chemistry as they enable more environmentally friendly production of various value-added molecules. The introduction of continuous operation in biocatalytic processes, i.e., flow biocatalysis, can meet the requirements for sustainable process design and process intensification (ŽnidaršičPlazl, 2021). The main challenges in the industrial implementation of biocatalysts include improved biocatalyst stability, cofactor regeneration/retention, and more efficient reactor design (Bolivar and López-Gallego, 2020), all of which are considered in this work. The use of microflow systems in biotechnology has increased dramatically in recent years, as microreactor technology offers several advantages over conventional methods, especially in establishing continuous, i.e., flow processes. A larger surface-to-volume ratio allows for improved mass and heat transport with better temporal and spatial control, while surface modifications and the use of nanostructured materials lead to a larger surface area for enzyme
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.