Effect of immobilization on the activity of catalase carried by poly(HEMA-GMA) cryogels

Abstract Hydrogen peroxide is converted by catalase to molecular oxygen and water to remove oxidative stress. In this study, catalase immobilization was performed using poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate-glycidyl methacrylate) (poly(HEMA-GMA)) cryogels with different amounts of GMA. Catalase adsorption capacity of 298.7 ± 9.9 mg/g was achieved at the end of 9 h using the poly(HEMA-GMA)-250 cryogel. Kinetic parameters and the inhibitory effects of pesticides such as 4,4′-DDE and 4,4′-DDT on the activity of free and immobilized catalase enzyme were investigated. While the V max value of the immobilized enzyme was reduced 4-fold compared to the free enzyme, in the case of the comparison of the K M values, the affinity of the immobilized enzyme was increased by 1.94 times against the substrate. The inhibitory effect of 4,4′-DDT pesticide was found to be higher for the immobilized and free enzyme. NaCl (1 M, pH: 7.0) solution was used for desorption of the adsorbed catalase enzyme. A desorption ratio of 96.45% was achieved. The technique used in this study is promising regarding for the immobilization of catalase enzyme to increase the operational activity. Therefore, poly(HEMA-GMA) cryogels have the potential to be used for immobilization of catalase enzyme in the fields of biology and biochemistry.