Enzyme Reactor Based on Reversible pH-Controlled Catalytic Polymer Porous Membrane

The challenge for polymeric enzyme reactors at present is to selectively control the enzymolysis rate in complex conditions. Additionally, the fabrication methodology is hindered by complex processes, especially for achieving diverse stimuli responsiveness and functions. Here, we reported a kind of pH-sensitive polymer, poly­(styrene-co-maleic anhydride-acrylic acid) (PS-MAn-AA)-based hybrid enzyme reactor. It comprised magnetic nanoparticles and a pH-sensitive PS-MAn-AA porous polymer membrane made by breath figure method. The enzyme l-asparaginase (l-ASNase) could covalently bond on the surface of the pH-sensitive porous polymer membrane (pH-PPM), and the resultant enzyme reactor was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and vibrating sample magnetometer. The apparent Michaelis–Menten constants (K_m and V_max) of the l-ASNase enzyme reactor at different pH values were determined by a chiral ligand-exchange capillary electrophoresis method with l-asparagine as the substrate. The V_max value of the l-ASNase enzyme reactor (0.67 mM/min) was almost 3-fold of that of the free l-ASNase (0.23 mM/min) at pH 8.2. Its ability to precisely control the enzymolysis rate in complex conditions is triggered primarily by the pH of the buffer solution, allowing controlled enzymatic reactions and displaying excellent stability and reusability of the proposed pH-PPM. This strategy for porous polymer membrane enzyme reactor fabrication has established a platform for enzyme efficiency adjusting. These valve-like distinguished features highlight the outstanding potential of stimuli-responsive enzyme reactor applied for enzyme immobilization and enzyme-related disease treatment.