Polymer-Based Strategies for Enzyme Immobilization: A Comprehensive Review

Enzyme immobilization refers to the process of attaching or confining enzymes onto a solid support or within a matrix, often made of polymers or other materials. This immobilization creates a stable and controlled environment for the enzyme to interact with substrates and perform catalysis. The primary goal of enzyme immobilization is to enhance enzyme stability, reusability, and activity under specific conditions, making them more practical and efficient for various biotechnological, industrial, and medical applications. Immobilization methods can vary widely, including physical adsorption, covalent bonding, entrapment within matrices, encapsulation, crosslinking, and more. These methods provide a means to control the interactions between the enzyme and the surrounding environment, affecting factors such as substrate accessibility, enzyme orientation, and stability. Due to their ease of fabrication and superior structural adaptability, polymer compounds in a variety of physical forms, including beads, films, fibers,and coatings,have become popular as supportive materials for enzyme immobilization. For enzyme immobilization, a number of natural polymers, including agar, agarose, alginate, dextran, chitosan,and carrageenan, as well as synthetic polymers, such as polyamides, polystyrene, and polyacrylamide, are often employed as a carrier system. The immobilization offers a cost-effective system for various applications in biotechnology, industry, and research.