The widespread use of industrial-scale processes employing enzymatic catalysts is still hindered by the inactivation of free enzymes due to various denaturant agents and the difficulty, or even impossibility, of their recovery from the reaction medium after use. To address these limitations, a new strategy has been proposed, centered on polymer-assisted biocatalysts created through the non-covalent immobilization of enzymes onto neat or magnetically responsive polyamide porous microparticle supports (PAMPS) synthesized via activated anionic ring-opening polymerization of lactams in suspension. Several PAMPS types (e.g., PA4, PA6, PA12, and the copolymeric PA612) were synthesized. The enzymes selected for this approach were laccase and pectinase. This presentation will focus on the synthesis, structure, morphology, catalytic activity, and applications of the following PAMPS-enzyme conjugates: i) PA4/laccase via absorption immobilization or entrapment and their utilization in effluent remediation; ii) PA6/laccase for catechol elimination in effluents; iii) PA6-supported enological pectinase and its use in rosé must clarification. The possibility for biosensors construction based on PA6/laccase conjugates will also be discussed.      These novel polymer-supported enzymatic biocatalysts offer numerous advantages, the most important being multiple use, easy and complete removal and higher activity, as compared to the respective native enzyme. 

Prof. DSc. Z. Denchev has completed his PhD in 1990 (Technical University of Sofia, Bulgaria) and his habilitation in 2015 (University of Minho, Portugal). Since 2000 to present he has been working as staff professor at the University of Minho, Institute for Polymers and Composites (IPC). He has published more than 100 peer-reviewed papers in reputed journals dedicated to polymer synthesis, enzyme immobilization on polymer supports, biocatalytic reactions, polymer analysis by synchrotron X-ray techniques. Author and co-author of 12 book chapters. Holds 8 patents. Currently serves as editorial board member of the MDPI journal Micro. ORCID data at: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9057-9380