S. (Saskia) Lindhoud : “Polyelectrolyte Complex Micelles as Wrapping for Enzymes”

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16 Sep 2009 13:30
Unit: Wageningen University
Location: Aula, building 362, Gen. Foulkesweg 1, Wageningen
Organisation: Wageningen University
Promotor: prof.dr. M.A. Cohen Stuart (Physical Chemistry and Colloid Chemistry)
Promotor: Prof.dr.ir. W. Norde
Co Promotor: Dr. R.J. de Vries

 Enzymes are molecules that perform specific chemical reactions. But these molecules are rather sensitive for changes in their environment . Therefore we have tried to protect enzymes by incorporating them in polyelectrolyte complex micelles. These micelles form when to polyelectrolytes (charged polymers) in aqueous environment are mixed with oppositely charged diblock copolymers. The latter polymers consist of two blocks: one water soluble hydrophilic block and one charged block. The oppositely charged molecules  form a complex because they attract each other, the hydrophilic blocks of the diblock copolymers form the corona. Because enzymes bear charges, they can be incorporated in the polyelectrolyte complex.

We have studied  and optimized the incorporation protocol and studied the disintegration of the micelles. We have calculated the energetically most favourable position of the enzyme and determined whether the incorporated enzymes are still capable of performing  reactions.
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