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Scalable Trehalose‐Functionalized Hydrogel Synthesis for High‐Temperature Protection of Enzymes
Author(s) -
Panescu Priera H.,
Ko Jeong Hoon,
Maynard Heather D.
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
macromolecular materials and engineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.913
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1439-2054
pISSN - 1438-7492
DOI - 10.1002/mame.201800782
Subject(s) - trehalose , materials science , yield (engineering) , polymerization , xylanase , enzyme , chemical engineering , chemistry , organic chemistry , polymer , engineering , metallurgy
Herein, a scalable, two‐step synthesis of a trehalose hydrogel for the thermostabilization of enzymes is reported. A reaction between vinylbenzyl chloride and trehalose in base, followed by a redox‐initiated radical polymerization of the resulting mixture, produces the gel in 88% yield. The reaction scale can be increased 100‐fold while maintaining a 76% yield. Additionally, various solvents are investigated for purification, and more sustainable manufacturing solvents are selected. When the three major enzymes utilized in animal feed, phytase, β‐glucanase, and xylanase, are heated to 90 °C in the hydrogel, greater than 98% activity is retained. Lastly, quantitative release of enzyme from the gel within 4 h is demonstrated. The scalable synthesis of the trehalose hydrogel, combined with its ability to stabilize and release a variety of animal feed enzymes, makes this technology promising for use with enzymes important in animal food production.