Kinetic characterization and modelling of sequentially entrapped enzymes in 3D-printed PMMA microfluidic reactors for the synthesis of amorphadiene via the isopentenol utilization pathway

Lipase Activation by Poly(Methyl Methacrylate) in Dispersed Solution: Mechanistic Insights by Fluorescence Spectroscopy

We investigated the mechanisms of polymer-lipase interactions that govern the catalytic activity of lipases in the presence of polymers. Using a combination of fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS), activity analysis, fluorescence spectroscopy, and computational surface analysis, three model lipases-Thermomyces lanuginosus lipase (TLL), Candida antarctica lipase B (CalB), and Bacillus subtilis lipase A (BSLA), with different degrees of hydrophobic active site exposure were studied. Low-molecular-weight poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), synthesized via ARGET ATRP, was employed to study the effect of unstructured polymers in dispersed solution on lipase activity. PMMA significantly enhanced TLL and BSLA hydrolytic activity, while no CalB activation was observed. FCS analysis indicated that this activation was facilitated by polymer lipase binding, a phenomenon observed with TLL and BSLA but not with CalB. Computational analysis further revealed that the surface properties of the lipases were critical for the lipases' susceptibility to activation by PMMA. Although CalB exhibited the largest total hydrophobic surface area, its homogeneous distribution prevented activation, whereas strong, localized hydrophobic interactions allowed PMMA to bind and activate TLL and BSLA. Supported by the quantitative correlation between elevated 8-anilino-1-naphthalenesulfonic acid (ANS) fluorescence in the presence of PMMA and lipase activity, the activation was attributed to locally increased hydrophobicity of the lipases upon polymer binding. These findings provide critical insights into the role of polymer interactions in lipase activation and stabilization, highlighting the potential for designing tailored polymer carriers to optimize enzyme performance in industrial and biotechnological applications.

Revolutionizing biocatalysis: A review on innovative design and applications of enzyme-immobilized microfluidic devices

Integrating microfluidic devices and enzymatic processes in biocatalysis is a rapidly advancing field with promising applications. This review explores various facets, including applications, scalability, techno-commercial implications, and environmental consequences. Enzyme-embedded microfluidic devices offer advantages such as compact dimensions, rapid heat transfer, and minimal reagent consumption, especially in pharmaceutical optically pure compound synthesis. Addressing scalability challenges involves strategies for uniform flow distribution and consistent residence time. Incorporation with downstream processing and biocatalytic reactions makes the overall process environmentally friendly. The review navigates challenges related to reaction kinetics, cofactor recycling, and techno-commercial aspects, highlighting cost-effectiveness, safety enhancements, and reduced energy consumption. The potential for automation and commercial-grade infrastructure is discussed, considering initial investments and long-term savings. The incorporation of machine learning in enzyme-embedded microfluidic devices advocates a blend of experimental and in-silico methods for optimization. This comprehensive review examines the advancements and challenges associated with these devices, focusing on their integration with enzyme immobilization techniques, the optimization of process parameters, and the techno-commercial considerations crucial for their widespread implementation. Furthermore, this review offers novel insights into strategies for overcoming limitations such as design complexities, laminar flow challenges, enzyme loading optimization, catalyst fouling, and multi-enzyme immobilization, highlighting the potential for sustainable and efficient enzymatic processes in various industries.

Advances in the metabolic engineering of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Yarrowia lipolytica for the production of -carotene

β-Carotene is one kind of the most important carotenoids. The major functions of β-carotene include the antioxidant and anti-cardiovascular properties, which make it a growing market. Recently, the use of metabolic engineering to construct microbial cell factories to synthesize β-carotene has become the latest model for its industrial production. Among these cell factories, yeasts including Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Yarrowia lipolytica have attracted the most attention because of the: security, mature genetic manipulation tools, high flux toward carotenoids using the native mevalonate pathway and robustness for large-scale fermentation. In this review, the latest strategies for β-carotene biosynthesis, including protein engineering, promoters engineering and morphological engineering are summarized in detail. Finally, perspectives for future engineering approaches are proposed to improve β-carotene production.

3D Printing: An Emerging Technology for Biocatalyst Immobilization

Employment of enzymes as biocatalysts offers immense benefits across diverse sectors in the context of green chemistry, biodegradability, and sustainability. When compared to free enzymes in solution, enzyme immobilization proposes an effective means of improving functional efficiency and operational stability. The advance of printable and functional materials utilized in additive manufacturing, coupled with the capability to produce bespoke geometries, has sparked great interest towards the 3D printing of immobilized enzymes. Printable biocatalysts represent a new generation of enzyme immobilization in a more customizable and adaptable manner, unleashing their potential functionalities for countless applications in industrial biotechnology. This review provides an overview of enzyme immobilization techniques and 3D printing technologies, followed by illustrations of the latest 3D printed enzyme-immobilized industrial and clinical applications. The unique advantages of harnessing 3D printing as an enzyme immobilization technique will be presented, alongside a discussion on its potential limitations. Finally, the future perspectives of integrating 3D printing with enzyme immobilization will be considered, highlighting the endless possibilities that are achievable in both research and industry. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.