Immobilization of β-Glucosidase on carbon nanotubes

Carbon nanotubes are demonstrated as a good support for the immobilization of β-Glucosidase. This is an enzyme with high molecular weight (ca. 135 kDa). A high enzyme loading of 630 mg per gram of support was achieved in 12 h. The link between the enzyme and the carbon nanotubes surface was by electrostatic interactions due to the different charges of the enzyme and the support at the pH of the immobilization. Immobilized β-Glucosidase showed a catalytic activity above 400 U/g on the hydrolysis of 4-nitrophenyl-β-D-glucopyranoside (p-NPG).