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Published on: December 6, 2013
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Protocell Flow Reactors for Enzyme and Whole-Cell Mediated Biocatalysis.
Huan Ma1, Xiayi Liu2, Angela H Nobbs2
1Centre for Organized Matter Chemistry and Centre for Protolife Research, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1TS, UK.
Advanced Materials (Deerfield Beach, Fla.)
|May 19, 2024
Summary
Protocell-based continuous flow reactors were fabricated using coacervate vesicles to immobilize enzymes and bacteria. These novel microreactors demonstrate enhanced biocatalysis and stability for sustainable chemical synthesis.
Area of Science:
- Biochemical Engineering
- Synthetic Biology
- Biocatalysis
Background:
- Continuous flow reactors are crucial for efficient chemical synthesis.
- Living cells utilize compartmentalization for biocatalytic regulation.
- Integrating cellular strategies into flow reactors offers new design possibilities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To fabricate protocell-based continuous flow reactors.
- To immobilize enzymes and bacteria within coacervate vesicles for biocatalysis.
- To demonstrate the application of these reactors in continuous flow processes.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of semipermeable membranized coacervate vesicles.
- Encapsulation of enzymes and bacteria within coacervate vesicles.
- Packing coacervate vesicles into a glass column for continuous flow reactions.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated oxidoreductase, peroxidase, lipolytic reactions, L-DOPA synthesis, and glycolysis.
- Protocell-nested enzymes and bacteria showed enhanced activity and stability.
- Developed a facile, cost-effective, and modular continuous flow biocatalysis system.
Conclusions:
- Protocell-based reactors offer a new platform for continuous flow biocatalysis.
- Encapsulation enhances enzyme and cell stability and activity.
- This approach advances green and sustainable industrial bioprocessing.
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