NYLON POLYETHYLENEIMINE MICROCAPSULES FOR IMMOBILIZING MULTI-ENZYMES WITH SOLUBLE DEXTRAN-NAD+ FOR CONTINUOUS RECYCLING OF MICROENCAPSULATED DEXTRAN-NAD+

Semipermeable nylon polyethyleneimine microcapsules were prepared to contain a multi-enzyme system of yeast alcohol dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.1) and malic dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.37) together with a soluble immobilized coenzyme, dextran-NAD+. In the presence of the substrates ethanol and oxaloacetic acid dextran-NAD+ was successfully recycled within the microcapsules by the sequential reaction of the included enzymes. Recycling rates of 72 cycles per hour were achieved. The microcapsules were also used in a continuous flow shunt where the rate of recycling of dextran-NAD+ reaches a peak within 45 min. and remains at this maximal level throughout 4 hours of continuous reaction. The microcapsules have shown good storage stability, 50% of the activity was retained after 18 days of storage. © 1978.