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  • Chitosan Graft Copolymers with N-Vinylimidazole as Promising Matrices for Immobilization of Bromelain, Ficin, and Papain.

Chitosan Graft Copolymers with N-Vinylimidazole as Promising Matrices for Immobilization of Bromelain, Ficin, and Papain.

Polymers (2022-06-11)
Andrey V Sorokin, Svetlana S Olshannikova, Maria S Lavlinskaya, Marina G Holyavka, Dzhigangir A Faizullin, Yuriy F Zuev, Valeriy G Artukhov
ABSTRACT

This work aims to synthesize graft copolymers of chitosan and N-vinylimidazole (VI) with different compositions to be used as matrices for the immobilization of cysteine proteases-bromelain, ficin, and papain. The copolymers are synthesized by free radical solution copolymerization with a potassium persulfate-sodium metabisulfite blend initiator. The copolymers have a relatively high frequency of grafting and yields. All the synthesized graft copolymers are water-soluble, and their solutions are characterized by DLS and laser Doppler microelectrophoresis. The copolymers are self-assembled in aqueous solutions, and they have a cationic nature and pH-sensitivity correlating to the VI content. The FTIR data demonstrate that synthesized graft copolymers conjugate cysteine proteases. The synthesized copolymer adsorbs more enzyme macromolecules compared to non-modified chitosan with the same molecular weight. The proteolytic activity of the immobilized enzymes is increased up to 100% compared to native ones. The immobilized ficin retains up to 97% of the initial activity after a one-day incubation, the immobilized bromelain retains 69% of activity after a 3-day incubation, and the immobilized papain retains 57% of the initial activity after a 7-day incubation. Therefore, the synthesized copolymers can be used as matrices for the immobilization of bromelain, ficin, and papain.

MATERIALS
Product Number
Brand
Product Description

Sigma-Aldrich
Papain from papaya latex, lyophilized powder, ≥10 units/mg protein
Sigma-Aldrich
Ficin from fig tree latex, powder, ≥0.1 unit/mg solid
Sigma-Aldrich
Bromelain from pineapple stem, ≥3 units/mg protein