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Updated: Apr 25, 2026

Immobilization of Multi-biocatalysts in Alginate Beads for Cofactor Regeneration and Improved Reusability
Published on: April 22, 2016
From algal polysaccharides to cyclodextrins to stabilize a urease inhibitor
Danièle Pro1, Samuel Huguet1, Mustapha Arkoun2
1Ecole Nationale Supérieure de Chimie de Rennes, CNRS, UMR 6226, 11 Allée de Beaulieu, CS 50837, 35708 Rennes Cedex 7, France; Université européenne de Bretagne, Rennes, France.
Abstract:
N-Butyl-phosphorotriamide (NBPT) is a fertilizer widely used for its urease inhibiting properties. Nevertheless, formulations currently commercialized are complex and do not avoid severe decrease of activity due to the low stability of the bioactive compound under acidic conditions. According to its structure, NPBT was thought to be able to interact with both polar additives, by its phosphoramide function, and hydrophobic ones, through its alkyl chain. In this context, and in order to simplify formulations of this bioactive compound, a panel of natural polysaccharides was studied, including starch, β-(1,3)-glucans, carraghenans and alginates. We also used cyclodextrins, characterized the most stable inclusion complex with α-cyclodextrin and evaluated the stability of NBPT thus protected against hydrolysis under acidic conditions.
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