Preparation of immobilized enzymatically-active substance

US4334027A · kind A · utility

Inventors

• Joachim Klein · Hochspeyer, DE
• Fritz Wagner · Kronach, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Feb 25, 1980
• Grant date: Jun 8, 1982
• Expiry date: Feb 25, 2000

Classification

• Technology area (CPC C): Chemistry; Metallurgy
• CPC primary: C12N11/10
• WIPO field: Biotechnology
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

Immobilized enzymatically-active substance is prepared by forming a combination of an enzymatically-active substance and an aqueous polyelectrolyte solution containing a substantial amount of alginate, adding the combination to an aqueous precipitation both containing a source of multivalent ion to form beads of gel containing the enzymatically-active substance, drying the gel beads under controlled conditions to significantly reduce the diameter of the beads and cause hardening of the beads to provide increased mechanical strength, and adding the dried beads to a precipitation both containing a multivalent ion to effect further hardening of the beads. The combination of enzymatically active substance and polyelectrolyte solution may contain an epoxy prepolymer. After further hardening in the polyelectrolyte solution, the beads may be suspended in a buffer solution to dissolve the polyelectrolyte and form porous beads. The process enables manufacture of enzymatically active beads of great mechanical strength, having a high content of enzymatic substance and a high degree of porosity.