Immobilized Aspergillus niger Lipase with SiO2 Nanoparticles in Sol-Gel Materials

Lipase from Aspergillus niger was "doubly immobilized" with SiO2 nanoparticles in sol-gel powders prepared via the base-catalyzed polymerization of tetramethoxysilane (TMOS) and methyltreimethoxysilane (MTMS). The hydrolytic activity of the immobilized lipase was measured using the p-nitrophenyl palmitate hydrolysis method. The results showed that the optimum preparation conditions for the gels were made using a MTMS/TMOS molar ratio of 5, 60 mg of SiO2 nanoparticles, a water/silane molar ratio of 12, 120 mg of enzyme supply, and 120 mu L of PEG400. Under the optimal conditions, the immobilized lipase retained 92% of the loading protein and 94% of the total enzyme activity. Characteristic tests indicated that the immobilized lipase exhibited much higher thermal and pH stability than its free form, which shows great potential for industrial applications.