Abstract
Abstract—We consider a previously proposed method for encapsulation of enzymes, which employs the layer-by-layer adsorption of oppositely charged polyelectrolytes onto composite spherulites (calcium carbonate/protein) followed by dissolution of the calcium carbonate support. The goal of this work is to choose conditions for encapsulation of the enzyme horseradish peroxidase by the method so that the catalytic activity of the encapsulated enzyme would be comparable with that of the soluble one. The steps of the fabrication of polyelectrolyte microcapsules with the studied enzyme have been tested. A protocol for obtaining composite spherulites of the desired size ranging from 2 to 10 µm has been developed. It is shown that the catalytic activity of horseradish peroxidase encapsulated in a microcapsule with a positively charged inner surface of the microcapsule envelope (the inner layer modified by polycation polyallylamine hydrochloride) is significantly higher than that of the enzyme encapsulated in a microcapsule with a negatively charged inner layer (modified by polyanion sodium polystyrene sulfonate). At the support dissolution step, ethylene glycol bis-(β-aminoethyl) tetraacetic acid (EGTA), a decalcifying agent used to dissolve CaCO3 from horseradish peroxidase microcapsules, is significantly less detrimental to enzymes than ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid. The catalytic activity of horseradish peroxidase encapsulated in polyallylamine hydrochloride/sodium polystyrene sulfonate/polyallylamine hydrochloride microcapsules (with positively charged inner surface of the microcapsule envelope) is 60–70% of the activity of the soluble enzyme (in experiments where the calcium-carbonate support of the composite spherulites is dissolved with EGTA).
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.