Bioprocessing with Nanobiocatalysts

Nanobiocatalysts(NBC) is the convergence of nanotech and biotech to boost enzyme performance in bioprocessing. The bioprocessing capabilities of NBCs are closely scrutinized for their performance evaluation. NBCs show improved catalytic activity and stability through conformational changes upon immobilization and localized nano environments. Research has shown that NBCs have the potential for future bioprocessing manufacturing. Successful lab trials have been done on NBCs for carbohydrate hydrolysis, biofuel production, and biotransformation.

Enzyme specificity and selectivity have led to their use in various fascinating applications, such as biocatalysis, biosensors, and biomedicine. Green processes are supported by biocatalysts because of their low chemical consumption and lack of toxic by-products. The main challenges of enzyme-catalyzed bioprocesses are high operating costs due to low enzyme stability and reusability when scaling to industrial processes. This technology can protect enzymes from chemical and environmental damage. This is important because the immobilized enzymes can be retrieved and reused in a large-scale, continuous process [1]. The enzyme’s stability and activity can be preserved by identifying the most appropriate immobilization protocols through thorough research [2]. Nanotechnology advancements have led to various nanoscale carriers that can be used for enzyme immobilization. The NBC formation refers to the construction of enzyme molecules on nanomaterial carriers to promote favorable chemical kinetics and substrate selectivity. Functionalized nanocarriers enable an organized structure for enzymes, acting as a system for nanoscale information storage and processing.

Enzyme immobilization onto nanoscale materials gives numerous benefits, such as low cost, fast immobilization and reaction, similarity in size, mild conversion conditions, excellent activities, mobility, high loading capacity, minimal diffusional limitations, self-assembly, and stability. Functional nanomaterials, like nanofibers, nanotubes, nanoparticles, nanocomposites, and nanosheets, have been used to develop NBCs. Advanced nanocarriers like nanopores and nanocontainers can improve enzyme engineering performances.

The strategies for immobilization vary depending on the interfacial interactions between enzymes and nanocarriers, as well as their physical and chemical characteristics. The NBC assembly must be suitable for the bioprocessing environment and not alter the native enzyme properties. We should aim to develop NBCs with extraordinary biochemical and engineering performance, including enhanced enzyme activity and stability, as well as reusability and processability. Bioprocess operations can create valuable and marketable products, and NBCs have attractive productivity and recyclability. They have potential for substrate pre-treatment [3], biofuel production [4], and biotransformation [5].

Various technologies have been used to produce specific and processable enzymes. For instance, recombinant DNA technology reduces costs, while directed evolution widens the substrate repertoire. Bioprocesses can also produce recyclable and durable enzymes for industrial applications. Nanocarriers with unique features and characteristics can be created by (i) adding functional groups to the surface for immobilizing enzymes or responding to external stimuli; (ii) creating unique structures that increase surface area, improve substrate diffusion, recycle nanocarriers, or confine enzymes within nanocages; and (iii) improving nanocarrier processability by enhancing mechanical and thermal stability. The use of nanostructures can improve the performance of immobilized enzymes in terms of activity, functionality, and stability.

Nanobiocatalyst enzymes have been employed in large-scale industrial processes, such as glucose isomerase for the production of fructose corn syrup, lipase for the transesterification of food oils, and penicillin G acylase for antibiotic modification [2]. The development of green and sustainable bioprocesses using enzymes has become increasingly popular due to advances in biotechnology.

Conclusion:

NBC technology has a bright future and presents exciting challenges. Collaboration among chemists, engineers, and material scientists is required to address these fascinating challenges. Nanotechnology has made available a variety of nanoscale scaffolds that have the potential to be used for the growth of NBC-driven industrial bioprocesses. The use of a functionalized nanocarrier-enzyme assembly has the potential to offer exciting advantages by enhancing enzyme stability and activity. This can be accomplished by creating unique nano environments surrounding the enzyme catalysts for maximal reaction efficiencies. Immobilizing enzymes using nanostructured carriers can significantly increase the lifespan of the biocatalyst for reuse. This reduces the cost of the biocatalytic process. To bring these bench-scale technologies into commercial practice, bioprocess engineers should play a significant role. Engineering issues should be addressed at the early stage of assembling NBCs. With collaborations between material scientists, bioprocessing engineers, and biochemists, advanced multifunctional NBCs could be commercialized in the near future.

By: Rubasha and Ali Haseeb Gul

References:

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