Enzyme immobilization in hydrogels: A perfect liaison for efficient and sustainable biocatalysis

Abstract

Biocatalysis is an established chemical synthesis technology that has by no means been restricted to research laboratories. The use of enzymes for organic synthesis has evolved greatly from early development to proof-of-concept – from small batch production to industrial scale. Different enzyme immobilization strategies contributed to this success story. Recently, the use of hydrogel materials for the immobilization of enzymes has been attracting great interest. Within this review, we pay special attention to recent developments in this key emerging field of research. Firstly, we will briefly introduce the concepts of both biocatalysis and hydrogel worlds. Then, we list recent interesting publications that link both concepts. Finally, we provide an outlook and comment on future perspectives of further exploration of enzyme immobilization strategies in hydrogels.