Enzyme performance in ionic liquids

Ionic liquids (ILs) having unique properties such as no measurable vapor pressure, nonflammability and a wide temperature range of liquid phase have been recognized as potential green solvents. As a result, ILs have been extensively explored as reaction media for various biocatalytic reactions over a decade. Enzyme activities in ILs are generally comparable with or higher than those observed in conventional organic solvents. Furthermore, enhanced thermal and operational stabilities and regio- or enantioselectivities have been observed in many cases. Thus, ILs offer new possibilities for the application of solvent engineering to biocatalytic reactions. This review discusses the effect of physicochemical properties of ILs on biocatalysis with respect to enzyme activity, stability and selectivity by systematizing literature data on enzyme-catalyzed reaction in ILs.