Immobilization of Enzymes in Protein Films

Heterogeneous biocatalysis usually involves the use of immobilized enzymes on solid supports. Enzymes have suitable properties in terms of efficiency and selectivity for use as immobilized catalysts. Different approaches have been developed for effective immobilization, including adsorption, covalent binding, entrapment, encapsulation, and cross-linking. Those systems offer some advantages with regard to homogeneous catalysts in solution, such as low costs, easy separation and recovery of the catalyst, reusability, and enzymatic stability. Here, we describe a new approach for the immobilization of active enzymes into homogenous films composed solely of scaffolding proteins that differs from the standard methods of enzyme immobilization on solid supports.