Synthetic p-tetrasulphonatocalix[4]arene as novel excipient for lipase-complex

• Synthesis of new material for excipient complex formation of enzymes.
• In the excipient complex formation enzyme retains its activity for a long time as compared to free one.
• In the excipient complex form enzyme could be used for variety of purposes.
• It is cheap, reusable and less time consuming method.

The present article describes formation of excipient-CRL complex from water soluble calix[4]arene derivative (3 as excipient) and Candida rugosa lipase (CRL), which is proposed as a reusable form of enzyme that is free from steric and diffusion limitations associated with those enzymes immobilized onto porous solid supports. The excipient-CRL could completely hydrolyze 50 mM p-nitrophenyl palmitate (p-NPP) in Tris–HCl buffer at a wide range of temperatures, i.e. 30–80 °C. It is stable under stirred conditions and could be reused multiple times without loss of enzyme activity. It was observed that excipient-CRL complex shows a significant effect on the enzyme activity with an enhancement in thermal stability, while pH and temperature affect the activity of excipient-CRL as well as free CRL. Consequently, the excipient-CRL was found more active than free CRL for the hydrolysis of p-NPP in respect of its reusability.