Preparation Fe3O4@chitosan magnetic particles for covalent immobilization of lipase from Thermomyces lanuginosus

Magnetic Fe3O4@chitosan nanoparticles were prepared by a simple in situ co-precipitation method and characterized by transmission electron microscope (TEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The prepared Fe3O4@chitosan nanoparticles were used for covalent immobilization of lipase from Thermomyces lanuginosus by chemical conjugation after electrostatic entrapment (CCEE). The optimal immobilization conditions were obtained as follows: enzyme/support 19.8 mg/g, pH 5.0, time 4 h and temperature 30 °C. Under these conditions, a high immobilization efficiency of 75% and a protein loading of 16.8 mg/g-support were obtained. Broad pH tolerance and high thermostability could be achieved by immobilization. The immobilized lipase retained 70% initial activity after ten cycles. Kinetic parameters Vmax and Km of free and immobilized lipase were determined as 5.72 mM/min, 2.26 mM/min and 21.25 mM, 28.73 mM, respectively. Ascorbyl palmitate synthesis with immobilized lipase was carried out in tert-butanol at 50 °C, and the conversion of ascorbic acid was obtained higher than 50%. These results showed that the immobilization of lipase onto magnetic chitosan nanoparticles by the method of CCEE is an efficient and simple way for preparation of stable lipase.