Application of polysaccharides in enzyme immobilization

Abstract Enzyme immobilization ensures an excellent base for rising availability of enzymes to the substrate with greater turnover over a considerable period of time. Several natural polysaccharides, inorganic materials, or synthetic polymeric supports have been used for the last few decades by applying various techniques like adsorption, covalent binding, entrapment, affinity immobilization, etc. Of them, polysaccharides such as cellulose, chitin, alginate, starch, carrageenan, pectin, etc. are preferred over the other two classes because of availability, easy fabrication techniques, aqueous insolubility, biocompatibility, nontoxicity, biodegradability, and physiological inertness. No doubt, for highly efficient and economically competent biotechnological processes, it is a promising technique in the fields of environmental monitoring, textile industries, biotransformation, pharmaceutical, diagnostics, food industries, etc. For the last few decades, researchers have been exploring many distinctive and smart ways to immobilize enzymes in a polysaccharide matrix, which has been included in many renowned journals. In this chapter, we have tried to illuminate significant applications of polysaccharides in enzyme immobilization, as well as reviewing the potential implication on the future enzyme market.