Enzyme Immobilization, Biocatalyst Featured with Nanoscale Structure

Abstract Since the industrialization of heterogeneous biocatalysts in the 1960s, substantial research efforts have been taken to construct feasible biocatalyses. The surprising progresses of nanotechnology in the 1990s were soon closely followed by the rapid development of nano‐biotechnology. Quite a number of advanced nanomaterials have shown great potential in revolutionizing the preparation of biocatalysts. Mesoporous carriers, one of the most recent, intensively studied materials, could provide a highly ordered internal space with size comparable to enzyme molecules, a considerable loading capacity, and enzyme stability. The large curvature of nanoparticles would benefit the conformational stability, and the Brownian motion of nanobiocatalysts such as the solution behavior nanoparticles, tethered and gel‐armored enzymes, would improve the mass transportation when compared to the traditional heterogeneous catalysis. Some other nanomaterials, such as nanofibers and nanotubes have shown potential for revolutionizing the enzyme support and industrial bioprocesses. More sophisticated hierarchical structure based on nanobiocatalysts is also discussed in this article; this was developed to overcome the drawbacks and ensure sustainable development of nanobiocatalysts.