IMMOBILIZATION OF MICROBIAL-CELLS AND ENZYMES WITH HYDROPHOBIC PHOTO-CROSSLINKABLE RESIN PREPOLYMERS

Attempts were made to entrap enzymes or microbial cells with water-insoluble photo-crosslinkable resin prepolymers of different types in organic solvent systems in the presence or absence of water. Acetone-dried cells of Artbrobacter simplex immobilized in a maleic polybutadiene gel (PBM-2000) converted hydrocortisone to prednisolone in a phosphate buffer. 4-Androstene-3,17-dione was converted to androst-1,4-diene-3,17-dione in benzene-n-heptane solution by Nocardia rhodocrous which was immobilized by a hydrophobic prepolymer, ENTP-2000. The ENTP-2000 had been synthesized from poly(propylene glycol)-2000, hydroxyethylacrylate and isophorone diisocyanate. Even enzymes catalyzing aqueous phase reactions, such as catalase and invertase, were immobilized in a polybutadiene resin (PB-200k) to give active gel-entrapped preparations. The cells and enzymes immobilized in these hydrophobic resins exhibited moderate activities compared with those of the free cells and enzymes. © 1979 Springer-Verlag.