Encouragement of Enzyme Reaction Utilizing Heat Generation from Ferromagnetic Particles Subjected to an AC Magnetic Field

We propose a method of activating an enzyme utilizing heat generation from ferromagnetic particles under an ac magnetic field. We immobilize alpha-amylase on the surface of ferromagnetic particles and analyze its activity. We find that when alpha-amylase/ferromagnetic particle hybrids, that is, ferromagnetic particles, on which alpha-amylase molecules are immobilized, are subjected to an ac magnetic field, the particles generate heat and as a result, alpha-amylase on the particles is heated up and activated. We next prepare a solution, in which alpha-amylase/ferromagnetic particle hybrids and free, nonimmobilized chitinase are dispersed, and analyze their activities. We find that when the solution is subjected to an ac magnetic field, the activity of alpha-amylase immobilized on the particles increases, whereas that of free chitinase hardly changes; in other words, only alpha-amylase immobilized on the particles is selectively activated due to heat generation from the particles.