Supramolecular Ionic Liquid Gels for Enzyme Entrapment

Reported herein is an entrapment method for enzyme immobilization that does not require the formation of new covalent bonds. Ionic liquid supramolecular gels are formed containing enzymes that can be shaped into gel beads and act as recyclable immobilized biocatalysts. The gel was formed from two components, a hydrophobic phosphonium ionic liquid and a low molecular weight gelator derived from the amino acid phenylalanine. Gel-entrapped lipase from Aneurinibacillus thermoaerophilus was recycled for 10 runs over 3 days without loss of activity and retained activity for at least 150 days. The procedure does not form covalent bonds upon gel formation, which is supramolecular, and no bonds are formed between the enzyme and the solid support.

Automated summary

An entrapment method for enzyme immobilization without the formation of new covalent bonds is reported. Ionic liquid supramolecular gels containing enzymes can be made into gel beads and used as recyclable immobilized biocatalysts. The gel, formed from a hydrophobic phosphonium ionic liquid and a low molecular weight gelator derived from phenylalanine, allows for 10 runs of recycling without activity loss and retains activity for at least 150 days. No covalent bonds are formed during gel formation, which is supramolecular, and there are no bonds between the enzyme and the solid support.