Barnase encapsulation into submicron porous CaCO3 particles – studies of loading and enzyme activity

The present study focuses on the immobilization of bacterial ribonuclease Barnase (Bn) into submicron porous calcium carbonate (CaCO3) particles. For encapsulation, we apply adsorption, freezing-induced loading and co-precipitation methods and study the effects of adsorption time, enzyme concentration and anionic polyelectrolytes on the encapsulation efficiency of Bn. We show that the use of negatively charged dextran sulfate (DS) and ribonucleic acid from yeast (RNA) increases the loading capacity (LC) of the enzyme on CaCO3 particles by about 3-fold as compared to the particles with Bn itself. Ribonuclease (RNase) activity of encapsulated enzyme depends on the LC of particles and transformation of metastable vaterite to stable calcite, as studied by the assessment of enzyme activities in particles.