Fabrication of enzyme-entrapped composite and macroporous gel beads by suspension gelation combined with sedimentation polymerization

• Lipase-entrapped composite and macroporous gel beads were prepared.
• Suspension gelation and sedimentation polymerization were combined.
• The gels successfully catalyzed the hydrolysis of p-nitrophenyl acetate.

Composite and macroporous gel beads for the immobilization of enzymes were produced by combining suspension gelation with sedimentation polymerization. Physically cross-linked calcium alginate microcapsules containing lipase were prepared by electrostatic atomization. Monodisperse millimeter-sized poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate hydrogel (composite gel) beads were fabricated by polymerizing droplets of pre-gel aqueous suspension that contained microcapsules during their descent in silicone oil. Macroporous gel beads with entrapped lipase were prepared by treating the composite gel beads with a trisodium citrate aqueous solution. The lipase immobilized within the composite and macroporous gels successfully catalyzed the hydrolysis of p-nitrophenyl acetate over successive cycles of use. The kinetics of the enzymatic reaction was analyzed using the Michaelis–Menten equation.

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