Sucrose-mediated heat-stiffening microemulsion-based gel for enzyme entrapment and catalysis

Formation of a thermally stiffening microemulsion-based gel showing a nanoconfinement effect of carbohydrates in terms of microviscosity and hydrodynamic diameter of the reverse micelle (specifically with sucrose) is reported. The advantage of this gel as an efficient batch bioreactor for entrapped enzymes (horseradish peroxidase and thermophilic alpha-glucosidase) was shown, and illustrated its potential biocatalytic application at high temperatures.