Enhanced enzymatic activity and stability by in situ entrapment of α-Glucosidase within super porous p(HEMA) cryogels during synthesis.

Here, poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (p(HEMA)) cryogel were prepared in the presence 0.48, 0.96, and 1.92 mL of α-Glucosidase enzyme (0.06 Units/mL) solutions to obtain enzyme entrapped superporous p(HEMA) cryogels, donated as α-Glucosidase@p(HEMA)-1, α-Glucosidase@p(HEMA)-2, and α-Glucosidase@p(HEMA)-3, respectively. The enzyme entrapped p(HEMA) cryogels revealed no interruption for hemolysis and coagulation of blood rendering viable biomedical application in blood contacting applications. The α-Glucosidase@p(HEMA)-1 was found to preserve its' activity% 92.3 ±â€¯1.4 % and higher activity% against free α-Glucosidase enzymes in 15-60℃ temperature, and 4-9 pH range. The Km and Vmax values of α-Glucosidase@p(HEMA)-1 cryogel was calculated as 3.22 mM, and 0.0048 mM/min, respectively versus 1.97 mM, and 0.0032 mM/min, for free enzymes. The α-Glucosidase@p(HEMA)-1 cryogel was found to maintained enzymatic activity more than 50 % after 10 consecutive uses, and also preserved their activity more than 50 % after 10 days of storage at 25 ℃, whereas free α-Glucosidase enzyme maintained only 1.9 ±â€¯0.9 % activity under the same conditions.

Dynamic swelling behavior of gamma-radiation induced polyelectrolyte poly(AAm-co-CA) hydrogels in urea solutions.

The aim of this study was to investigate the equilibrium swelling properties in urea solutions of gamma-radiation induced polyelectrolyte copolymeric hydrogels consisting of acrylamide (AAm) and crotonic acid (CA). Poly(acrylamide-co-crotonic acid), poly(AAm-co-CA) hydrogels containing different amounts of CA were obtained in the form of rods after radiation. Swelling experiments were performed in aqueous urea solutions at 25 degrees C, gravimetrically. The hydrogels showed large extents of swelling in aqueous (urea/water) media the swelling being highly dependent on the chemical composition of the hydrogels and irradiation dose. The percentage swelling of poly(AAm-co-CA) hydrogels was between 1160 and 4250%, while that of the AAm hydrogels was between 670 and 900%. The diffusional exponent values (n) are between 0.51 and 0.66, hence the diffusion of urea/water into the hydrogels is non-Fickian. Equilibrium urea/water contents of the hydrogel systems were changed between 0.870 and 0.977.