Combinatorial High-Throughput Screening of Complex Polymeric Enzyme Immobilization Supports

Area of Science:

• Polymer Chemistry
• Biocatalysis
• Materials Science

Background:

• Complex polymeric supports show potential for enhancing enzyme performance beyond biological limits.
• Current methods for discovering these supports are slow and low-throughput, hindering progress.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel combinatorial and high-throughput platform for rapid screening of copolymer brushes as enzyme immobilization supports.
• To accelerate the discovery of advanced materials for enzyme stabilization and enhanced activity.

Main Methods:

• Developed combinatorial high-throughput enzyme support screening (CHESS) using a 384-well plate format.
• Utilized photoactivated surface-initiated polymerization to synthesize three-component polymer brushes.
• In situ enzyme immobilization and screening under denaturing conditions.

Main Results:

• Demonstrated CHESS's utility in identifying optimal supports for *Bacillus subtilis* Lipase A (LipA) under harsh conditions.
• Validated findings by immobilizing LipA on polymer-brush-modified biocatalyst particles.
• Successfully predicted optimal polymer brush compositions for alkaline phosphatase (AlkP).

Conclusions:

• CHESS provides a predictable and reliable platform for significantly accelerating the search for enzyme immobilization support compositions.
• This platform facilitates the discovery of biocompatible and stabilizing materials for improved enzyme applications.