Polyelectrolytes for Enzyme Immobilization and the Regulation of Their Properties

In this review, we considered aspects related to the application of polyelectrolytes, primarily synthetic polyanions and polycations, to immobilize enzymes and regulate their properties. We mainly focused on the description of works in which polyelectrolytes were used to create complex and unusual systems (self-regulated enzyme-polyelectrolyte complexes, artificial chaperones, polyelectrolyte brushes, layer-by-layer immobilization and others). These works represent the field of smart polymers, whilst the trivial use of charged polymers as carriers for adsorption or covalent immobilization of proteins is beyond the scope of this short review. In addition, we have included a section on the molecular modeling of interactions between proteins and polyelectrolytes, as modeling the binding of proteins with a strictly defined, and already known, spatial structure, to disordered polymeric molecules has its own unique characteristics.

Automated summary

This review discusses the application of polyelectrolytes, particularly synthetic polyanions and polycations, for immobilizing enzymes and regulating their properties. It focuses on the use of polyelectrolytes to create complex systems such as self-regulated enzyme-polyelectrolyte complexes, artificial chaperones, polyelectrolyte brushes, layer-by-layer immobilization, and others. The review also includes a section on molecular modeling of protein-polyelectrolyte interactions.