Biocolloids based on amphiphilic block copolymers as a medium for enzyme encapsulation

The ability of two biocompatible amphiphilic block copolymers consisting of hydrophilic poly(ethylene oxide) and hydrophobic poly(ε-caprolactone) with different hydrophilic/hydrophobic block ratio to act as stabilizers of water-in-oil (w/o) microemulsions and enzyme encapsulation therein has been tested. Phase diagrams of the two block copolymers in mixtures of chloroform/isopropanol/water were constructed, revealing that the systems can incorporate important amounts of aqueous phase. The w/o microemulsions were then used to encapsulate R. miehei lipase. Empty as well as lipase-loaded systems were characterized by DLS as well as EPR spectroscopy. It was found that the incorporated lipase was preferably localized in the interior of the droplets. The apparent hydrodynamic radii of the droplets were found to vary from 86 to 3000 nm and from 66 to 2140 nm for empty PEO-PCL 30 and PEO-PCL 53 stabilized systems, respectively. In the presence of the lipase, the hydrodynamic radii were considerably decreased. The catalytic activity of the encapsulated lipase was successfully tested via a model esterification reaction. The effect of temperature on the catalytic behavior of the encapsulated R. miehei lipase was investigated, revealing that the initial rate of the esterification reaction depended on the type of the block copolymer used.