Using mesoporous silica materials to immobilise biocatalysis-enzymes

Biocatalysis could gain an enhanced breakthrough with the introduction of novel mesoporous silica materials as enzyme carriers: the dimensions of most of the enzymes are within the pore size range of these new silica materials and a broad spectrum of enzymes can be immobilised. These materials moreover have (i) a uniform pore size distribution, (ii) a high specific surface area and pore volume and (iii) are easy to functionalise. This paper introduces fundamental aspects and techniques to immobilise enzymes on a carrier.