Stability of Immobilization and Protection of Immobilized Enzymes/Cells
Strategies have also been developed to achieve stabilization of immobilized enzymes, using multipoint covalent attachment to gels. This also provides resistance to conformational changes due to heat and altered pH, although very strong support may also lead to adverse conformational changes. As will be shown in the next chapter, a large number of bioprocesses in future will be carried out in organic solvents and stability in these solvents may be needed. Although, immobilization itself provides stability in organic solvents, cross-linking with a bifunctional reagent, such as glutaraldehyde proves useful. Stability of immobilized cells has also been achieved by cross-linking, particularly in case of halophilic cells used for bioconversions under high salt conditions.