Preparation of water-insoluble lignin nanoparticles by deep eutectic solvent and its application as a versatile and biocompatible support for the immobilization of α-amylase

Effect of DES lignin incorporation on physicochemical, antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of carboxymethyl cellulose-based films

Herein, three pretreated grapevine lignins were incorporated into carboxymethyl cellulose films. The effects of traditional NaOH pretreated lignin and DES (ChCl-LA, ChCl-LA & K2CO3-EG) pretreated lignin on film properties were compared. Modern analytical techniques were employed to systematically characterize the pretreated lignin and the different CMC-lignin films. The results showed that DES lignin was of high purity, low molecular weight, and homogeneous structure. It outperformed traditional NaOH lignin in terms of compatibility with CMC, enabling it to perform its bioactivity and physicochemical functions in films. This feature effectively enhanced the hydrophobicity, UV shielding ability, water vapor barrier, thermal stability, mechanical properties, and biological activity of CMC-DES lignin film. NMR (2D HSQC) showed that the excellent antioxidant and antibacterial capabilities of CMC-DES lignin film are due to the retention of butyl (S) and p-hydroxyphenyl (H) units in DES lignin, resulting in its rich phenolic hydroxyl content. The detailed structural elucidation of DES lignin's chemical interactions with CMC provided valuable insights into the advantageous properties observed in the films, presenting innovative solutions for applications in the food packaging and preservation industries.

Pros and Cons in Various Immobilization Techniques and Carriers for Enzymes

In recent years, enzyme immobilization technology has been developed, and studies on immobilized enzyme materials have become very prominent. With the immobilization technique, enzymes and compatible carrier materials are combined or enzyme crystals/aggregates are used in a carrier-free fashion, by physical, chemical, or biochemical methods. As a kind of biocatalyst, immobilized enzymes can catalyze certain chemical reactions with high selectivity and high efficiency under relatively mild reaction conditions and eliminate pollution to the environment. Considering the current status and applications of immobilized enzyme technology and materials emerging in the last 5 years, this mini-review introduces the advantages and disadvantages of various enzyme immobilization techniques with carriers as well as the pros and cons of different materials for immobilization. The future prospects of immobilization technology and carrier materials are outlined, aiming to provide a reference for further research and applications of sustainable technology.