Interpolyelectrolyte complexes as a new family of enzyme carriers

Abstract

AbstractThe ability of nonstoichiometric interpolyelectrolyte complexes of dissolving in water and reversible precipitation, induced by the changes of conditions (pH, ionic strength of the solution) was used to create the reversibly soluble immobilized enzymes. The techniques of the enzyme inclusion (penicillin amidase, α‐chymotrypsin, urease etc.) in the interpolyelectrolyte complexes were worked out. It was shown that the application of the reversibly soluble immobilized enzymes allows: (1) to combine all advantages of the homogeneous catalysis with easy separation of enzyme molecules from the reaction mixture in the end of the process; (2) to increase significantly the thermostability of immobilized enzyme via its precipitation by pH decrease; (3) to protect the enzyme from high‐molecular‐weight inhibitors either in the precipitate or in a homogeneous solution; (4) to create self‐regulating enzyme systems in which an attainment of the certain conversion degree results in process termination; (5) to design reversibly soluble polyenzymatic systems.