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.