Immobilization of Enzymes by Radiation-Induced Copolymerization of 2-Hydroxyethyl Methacrylate and Other Hydrophilic or Hydrophobic Comonomers

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Abstract
Immobilization of enzymes by radiation-induced copolymerization was studied at low temperatures by use of various comonomer systems consisting of 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate and other more hydrophilic or hydrophobic comonomers. The matrices obtained by copolymerization with more hydrophilic and more hydrophobic comonomers decreased the porosity in the matrix equally. The activity yield of the immobilized enzyme [Aspergillus niger glucoamylase] showed different changes with repeated use in the more hydrophilic and more hydrophobic matrices. The initial activity decreased rapidly with repeated use owing to the enzyme leakage from the matrix, in the increased hydrophilic matrices. In the more hydrophobic matrices enzyme leakage was completely retarded and activity did not change with repeated use. The activity yield showed a maximum at a certain monomer composition in the copolymerization with hydrophobic comonomer. The maximum activity yield of the hydrophobic matrices was larger in general than that of the hydrophilic copolymer matrices.