Improving biocatalysis of cefaclor with penicillin acylase immobilized on magnetic nanocrystalline cellulose in deep eutectic solvent based co-solvent

[Display omitted] •Cefaclor yield of 91% was obtained in DES-buffer (7:3, v/v) co-solvent system.•Penicillin acylase immobilized on magnetic nanocrystalline cellulose was prepared.•The introduction of DES enhanced the yield and selectivity of cefaclor synthesis. Deep eutectic solvent (DES), has been considered as a new type of green solvent applied in enzymatic systems. Here, we reported DES-buffer co-solvent as a novel reaction medium for high efficient synthesis of cefaclor by penicilin acylase immobilized on magnetic nanocrystalline cellulose. Effect of DES composition, DES-buffer ratio, temperature, pH, substrate ratio and substrate concentration was systematically investigated. In co-solvent consisting of choline chloride (ChCl):glycol-buffer (7:3, v/v), conversion of 7-ACCA was 94%, synthesis to hydrolysis ratio was 1.8, and yield of cefaclor reached 91%, higher than that in aqueous buffer with optimized yield of 84%, showing the great potential of DES as organic solvent alternative. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first example of biosynthesis of cefaclor in the DES-buffer co-solvent.