Horseradish peroxidase microcapsules based on layer-by-layer polyelectrolyte deposition.

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Biochemistry
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Horseradish peroxidase (HRP) is a crucial enzyme for various biochemical applications.
• Developing stable and efficient encapsulation methods for enzymes is essential for their practical use.
• Polyelectrolyte multilayer microcapsules offer a versatile platform for biomolecule encapsulation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To prepare polyelectrolyte multilayer microcapsules for the encapsulation of horseradish peroxidase (HRP).
• To investigate the structural integrity and enzymatic activity of the encapsulated HRP.
• To evaluate the potential of these microcapsules for applications in detecting and treating phenolic compounds.

Main Methods:

• Preparation of CaCO3 microparticles loaded with HRP.
• Layer-by-layer (LbL) deposition of poly(allylamine) and poly(styrene sulfonate) films onto CaCO3 templates.
• Dissolution of CaCO3 templates using ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid to yield HRP-loaded microcapsules.
• Characterization using optical and fluorescence microscopy.
• Assessment of HRP catalytic activity in pyrogallol oxidation.

Main Results:

• Homogeneous spherical microcapsules with an average diameter of approximately 7 μm were successfully prepared.
• Encapsulated HRP retained significant catalytic activity in the oxidation of pyrogallol.
• Negligibly small leakage of HRP from the microcapsules was observed, indicating good containment.
• The microcapsules provide a suitable microenvironment for enzymatic reactions.

Conclusions:

• Polyelectrolyte multilayer microcapsules are effective for the stable encapsulation of HRP.
• The prepared HRP-loaded microcapsules exhibit excellent enzyme activity and minimal leakage.
• These microcapsules hold significant promise for applications in the detection and treatment of phenolic compounds.