Abstract
Enzymes have been exploited by humans for thousands of years in brewing and baking, but it is only recently that biocatalysis has become a mainstream technology for synthesis. Today, enzymes are used extensively in the manufacturing of pharmaceuticals, food, fine chemicals, flavors, fragrances and other products. Enzyme immobilization technology has also developed in parallel as a means of increasing enzyme performance and reducing process costs. The aim of this review is to present and discuss some of the more recent promising technical developments in enzyme immobilization, including the supports used, methods of fabrication, and their application in synthesis. The review highlights new support technologies such as the use of well-established polysaccharides in novel ways, the use of magnetic particles, DNA, renewable materials and hybrid organic–inorganic supports. The review also addresses how immobilization is being integrated into developing biocatalytic technology, for example in flow biocatalysis, the use of 3D printing and multi-enzymatic cascade reactions.
Highlights
Despite the many millions of organic compounds already known, either of natural origin or artificially prepared by humans, there is still a need to design and synthesize novel molecules
Multiple enzymes on a single support may be used to perform a sequence of reactions as discussed below
A phalanx of examples includes the use of immobilized enzymes in flow chemistry, 3D-printed immobilized enzymes and immobilized multienzyme systems that catalyze artificial synthetic pathways that mimic metabolic processes
Summary
Despite the many millions of organic compounds already known, either of natural origin or artificially prepared by humans, there is still a need to design and synthesize novel molecules They could represent hitherto completely unknown structural architectures and functional features or be mere analogs of existing chemical entities carrying minor or major modifications. The task of making compounds previously not known is, without a doubt, driven by the curiosity to explore whether a specific molecule can be made This is, not the end of the story, as there will always be a desire to investigate the properties of the products isolated, for example, whether they are pharmacologically active, can be used for agricultural purposes or are of interest as new materials. The catalysts of nature, are such an enabling tool, which can offer unique possibilities when focusing on the synthesis of target molecules
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