Immobilization and stabilization of papain on poly(hydroxyethyl methacrylate-ethylenglycol dimethacrylate) beads grafted with epoxy functional polymer chains via surface-initiated-atom transfer radical polymerization (SI-ATRP)

► Papain was self-immobilized on p(HEMA-EGDMA)-g-p(GMA) beads. ► Kinetics and some other properties of free and immobilized papain was evaluated. ► Immobilized papain exhibited advanced thermal and storage stabilities over free enzyme. ► The reusability of the immobilized papain can reduce the enzyme cost. ► The immobilized papain can be used continuously for protein hydrolysis.