Functionalized corn stalk carboxymethyl cellulose and mesoporous silica SBA-15 composite hydrogel-immobilized lipase for the resolution of racemic ibuprofen ethyl ester

The immobilization of enzymes is an important strategy to improve their stability and reusability. However, it often comes with a trade off of reduced biological activity and catalytic efficiency. In this study, a composite hydrogel based on corn stalk carboxymethyl cellulose, acrylic acid, and mesoporous silica SBA-15 was developed as a support for the immobilization of lipase from Pseudomonas S.P. (PSL). The surface morphology and functional properties of the composite hydrogels were investigated by scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared, X-ray diffraction and simultaneous thermal analyzer, respectively. The composite hydrogel materials had a large number of mesopores and macropores were present in the wall of the hydrogel sheet. The hydrogel had a network structure that reduced the diffusion resistance of the substrate and improved the accessibility of the enzyme. The immobilized PSL exhibited high enantioselectivity (E value: 88.2) and enzyme activity (316.8 µmol/g/min) in the preparation of (S)-ibuprofen by enzymatic hydrolytic resolution of racemic ibuprofen ethyl ester. This prepared novel composite hydrogel is a promising supporting matrix for the immobilization of enzymes.