Functionalized Magnetic Bacterial Cellulose Beads as Carrier for Lecitase® Ultra Immobilization

Bacterial cellulose spheres subjected to amination and inlaid modification with superparamagnetic molecules were analyzed with regard to possibility of their application as an immobilization carrier of Lecitase® Ultra (LU) enzyme. The starting point to obtain the carrier was synthesis of bacterial cellulose spheres performed in shaking cultures of Komagataeibacter xylinus. These spheres were subsequently subjected to a multi-stage modification to increase the efficiency of the immobilization process and to separate product from the reaction medium. Maximal yield of Lecitase® Ultra immobilization equaled 70%. It was also found that immobilization process did not affect the pH and LU temperature optimum. Moreover, immobilized enzyme exhibited similar temperature stability profile as its native form. The immobilization process did not significantly affect the enzyme K_M value. The immobilized enzyme retained over 70% of its initial activity after 8 cycles of use. The immobilized enzyme displayed good storage stability and retained 80% of its initial activity after 4 weeks at 4 °C. The potential application of such modified cellulose-based carrier may be correlated with lower costs of process thanks to higher enzyme's reusability in comparison to unbound enzyme. Moreover, data presented in the current study may serve as proof of a concept of cellulose-based carrier utilization for immobilization of enzymes other than LU and of high industrial importance.