Enzyme immobilisation and biosensors

What is enzyme immobilisation?

Enzymes are bound to an inert matrix (solid support) which limits their movement.

Advantages of enzyme immobilisation

Enzymes are recovered at the end of the reaction, easy separation of enzyme from products, stability of immobilised enzyme increases so the are more resistant to temp and pH changes, enhanced enzyme properties, process can be continued constantly

DisAdvantages of enzyme immobilisation

Industrial applications ar limited, some enzymes become unstable, high cost for isolation, purification and recovery of enzymes

uses of enzyme immobilisation

Biosensors, biological washing powders, seed germination

What is a biosensor?

Analytical devices used for the detection of a substance that combines a biological component with a physio chemical detector

Process inside a glucose biosensor?

Glucose reacts with enzyme and is broken down using oxygen, decrease in oxygen is detected by an electrode and chemical signal is converted to an electrical signal which is amplified and processed so can be seen on a display

Principles of a glucose dipstick (urine)

Cheap
Quick
Simple
Qualitative but can be semi-quantitative as colour intensity can give indications

Principles of biosensors for glucose

Expensive
Quantitative