Overview of the Enzyme Support System of Immobilization for Enhanced Efficiency and Reuse of Enzymes

Enzyme immobilization has recently been presented as a powerful tool for routine processes in the manufacture of many industrial products in the pharmaceutical, chemical, and food industries. The use of enzymes as biocatalysts works well in terms of mild reaction conditions, biodegradability, and catalytic efficiency. However, the harsh conditions of industrial processes increase the propensity of enzyme destabilization, shortening their industrial lifespan. Enzyme immobilization technology provides an effective means to circumvent these concerns by enhancing enzyme catalytic properties,simplifying downstream processing, and improving operational stability. Because of the strong influence these materials have on the properties of the produced catalytic system, the type of support material used is critical in the immobilization process. Immobilization of enzymes onto supports is accomplished through a variety of techniques ranging from reversible physical adsorption and ionic linkages, to irreversible stable covalent bonds. Information about the structure of the enzyme protein following interaction with the support surface as well as interactions of the enzymes with other proteins is crucial in immobilization steps. These technologies are useful for determining the efficacy of an immobilization technique and developing future enzyme immobilization procedures. The chapter will be beneficial in the selection of suitable support materials with tailored properties to produce highly effective biocatalytic systems for use in various processes.