Tailoring a stable and recyclable nanobiocatalyst by immobilization of surfactant treated Burkholderia cepacia lipase on polyaniline nanofibers for biocatalytic application.

Polyaniline nanofibers were synthesized by the oxidative polymerization of aniline. Surfactant treated lipase from Burkholdaria cepacia was immobilized on these polyaniline nanofibers by adsorption. The activity of immobilized preparation was six times higher than that of free lipase with an enhanced dispersion in organic solvents. Five-level-four-factor central composite design was applied for the optimization of immobilization parameters (viz. reaction time, pH, stirring rate and enzyme-support ratio) which were evaluated on the basis of lipase loading and activity. The thermal stability of the lipase in the nanobioconjugate, demonstrated in terms of the half-life at 80 °C was almost sixteen-fold higher than in the free form. The reusability data revealed the utility of the nanoconjugate for seven consecutive cycles with a slow and gradual decline in the activity. However, the nanoconjugate retained almost 30% of their initial activity after seven cycles of reuse revealing its utility of in industrial applications. The nanoconjugate was used in the kinetic resolution of (RS)-1-(7-(3-chloro-2-hydroxypropoxy)benzofuran-2-yl) ethanone, racemic intermediate of an important β-blocker (Befunolol), with a high conversion rate of 48.2%, 98% ee-value and enantioselectivity (E) of 188, which signify its importance as a nanobiocatalyst.