Immobilization of enzymes into a polyionic hydrogel: ChitoXan

Three enzymes were immobilized onto polyionic hydrogel, ChitoXan, obtained by complexation between chitosan and xanthan. The biocatalysts used were two proteases (protease type XIX from Fungal d'Aspergillus sojae and the trypsin type II.S from Porcine Pancreas) and a lipase (lipase Type VII from Candida rugosa). The immobilization efficiencies and the relative activities were investigated for these enzymes. The immobilization efficiencies changed with each enzyme and varied between 53 and 80%. Good relative activities were found for the lipase Type VII from Candida rugosa and the protease type XIX from Fungal dAspergillus sojae. For the latter, the influence of several factors were studied: molarity of the storage buffer, storage temperature and time of hydrogel, and the enzyme concentration. For the immobilized lipase, hydrolysis of olive oil in aqueous and organic media has been compared. This study confirmed that the lipase modified the external and internal structure of the hydrogel from fibrillar to the formation of globular structures in the presence of lipases.