Trypsin immobilization on mesoporous silica with or without thiol functionalization

The effects of pore size, structure, and surface functionalization of mesoporous silica on the catalytic activity of the supported enzyme, trypsin, were investigated. For this purpose, SBA-15 with 1-dimensional pore arrangement and cubic Ia3d mesoporous silica with 3-dimensional pores were prepared and tested as a support. Materials with varying pore diameters in the range 5–10 nm were synthesized using a non-ionic block copolymer by controlling the synthesis temperature. Thiol-group was introduced to the porous materials via siloxypropane tethering either by post synthesis grafting or by direct synthesis. These materials were characterized using XRD, SEM, TEM, N2 adsorption, and elemental analysis. Trypsin-supported on the solids prepared was active and stable for hydrolysis of N-α-benzoyl-DL-arginine-4-nitroanilide (BAPNA). Without applying thiol-functionalization, cubic Ia3d mesoporous silica with ca. 5.4 nm average pore diameter was found to be superior to SBA-15 for trypsin immobilization and showed a better catalytic performance. However, enzyme immobilized on the 5% thiol-functionalized SBA-15 prepared by directly synthesis was found to be the most promising and was also found recyclable.