Conducting Polymer-Silica Composites for Immobilization of Enzymes

A new enzyme immobilization method based on hydrophobic interaction between supporting material and enzyme has been successfully developed. The efficacy of the new technique has been investigated by loading a horse radish peroxidase (HRP) enzyme on the surface of conducting polymer-silica composites and by measuring the enzyme activity and leaching property of HRP loaded within polymer-silica composites. The immobilized HRP enzyme showed activity profiles similar to that of free HRP in phosphate buffer (pH 6). Above all, HRP adsorbed on the polymer-silica composites has showed excellent stability over 10 days, compared to HRP adsorbed on the pristine silica. It is thought that with appropriate optimization works, the present method would be used as a cost-effective and facile route for the immobilization of biomolecules.