Catalase Immobilized on Poly(Acrylic Acid-co-Vinyl Alcohol)

Abstract

The paper studies the reaction of catalase’s immobilization on a synthetic polymer (copolymer of the acrylic acid with vinyl alcohol), through amidation of enzyme’s terminal amine groups with the lateral carboxylic group of the macromolecular support, as activated by dicycloxexyl carbodiimide. The support, possessing the properties of a hydrogel, has been synthesized through copolymerization of the acrylic acid with vinyl acetate, followed by hydrolysis of the acetate groups to the hydroxylic groups. The influence of some reaction parameters (such as the activator/support and enzyme/support ratios, duration) on the efficiency of the enzyme’s coupling was studied. The coupling reactions were realized conformely to a centered, rotator, composed, second order experimental program, which permitted the establishment of the conditions necessary for obtaining a coupling product containing the highest amount of immobilized enzyme. Kinetic study of the reaction catalyzed by the coupling products has indirectly evidenced enzyme’s immobilization to the macromolecular support, and also, a sufficiently high catalytic activity of the enzymatic preparation obtained.