Enzyme immobilization by radiation-induced polymerization of hydrophobic glass-forming monomers at low temperatures

Radiation-induced polymerization for the immobilization of penicillin acylase

The immobilization of Escherichia coli penicillin acylase (EC 3.5.1.11) was investigated by radiation-induced polymerization of 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate at low temperature. A leak-proof composite that does not swell in water was obtained by adding the cross-linking agent trimethylolpropane trimethacrylate to the monomer-aqueous enzyme mixture. Penicillin acylase, which was immobilized with greater than 70% yield, possessed a higher Km value toward the substrate 6-nitro-3-phenylacetamidobenzoic acid than the free enzyme form (Km = 1.7 X 10(-5) and 1 X 10(-5) M, respectively). The structural stability of immobilized penicillin acylase, as assessed by heat, guanidinium chloride, and pH denaturation profiles, was very similar to that of the free-enzyme form, thus suggesting that penicillin acylase was entrapped in its native state into aqueous free spaces of the polymer matrix.

Immobilization of antibodies and enzyme-labeled antibodies by radiation polymerization

Immobilization of antibodies and enzyme-labeled antibodies by radiation polymerization at low temperatures was studied. The antibody activity of antibody was not affected by irradiation at an irradiation dose of below 8 MR and low temperatures. Immobilization of peroxidase-labeled anti-rabbit IgG goat IgG, anti-peroxidase, peroxidase, and anti-alpha-fetoprotein was carried out with hydrophilic and hydrophobic monomers. The activity of the immobilized enzyme-labeled antibody membranes varied with the thickness of the membranes and increased with decreasing membrane thickness. The activity of the immobilized antibody particles was varied by particle size. Immobilized anti-alpha-fetoprotein particles and membranes can be used for the assay of alpha-fetoprotein by the antigen-antibody reaction, such as a solid-phase sandwich method with high sensitivity.

Immobilization of enzymes for medical uses on plastic surfaces by radiation-induced polymerization at low temperatures

The immobilization of some medically useful enzymes were studied by means of radiation-induced polymerization at -78 degrees C. Glucose oxidase and glucose peroxidase were immobilized in the form of thin membranes inside polyvinyl chloride tubes and on polyethylene films; these membranes showed considerable activity yield, as well as good activity retention. Two effective methods were adopted to improve the surface properties of the base materials and to facilitate firm immobilization by coating: that is, an undercoating method followed by radiation curing of the undercoating and an irradiation grafting method with a monomer. Both were tested with good results. An immobilization of urokinase was also carried out successfully by similar methods. The thrombogenicity of the immobilized urokinase showed a remarkable effect on thombus formation.

Enzyme immobilization by radiation-induced polymerization of 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate at low temperatures

Enzyme immobilization by radiation-induced polymerization of hydrophilic glass-forming monomers, such as 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate, was studied. Enzyme radiation damage could be sufficiently retarded at low temperatures. The immobilized enzyme activity yield was markedly higher at low temperature than at higher temperature polymerization. At low temperatures the polymerized composite had a porous structure owing to ice crystallization which depends on the monomer concentration. It was deduced that the enzyme was partially trapped on the polymer surface, partially isolated in the pore, and partially occluded inside the polymer matrix. A decrease in activity caused by enzyme leakage was observed with repeated use in enzyme reactions where the composites had a large porosity. The activity yield showed a maximum at certain optimum porosities, i.e., at optimum monomer concentrations. Continuous enzyme reaction was preferably carried out using immobilized enzyme columns.