Ana Isabel Benítez Mateo
(CIC biomaGUNE)
Industrial biocatalysis is a smart path towards more cost-effective and sustainable chemical processes. However, there are still some drawbacks in terms of enzyme stability, molecule recycling and mass transfer matters among others that limit the progress of heterogeneous biocatalysis. In order to overcome these issues, micro-scale approaches and rational designs of heterogeneous biocatalysts are needed to make more efficient the final industrial reactions. Inspired by the natural compartmentalization of metabolic pathways inside the living cells, we assembled molecular systems into artificial solid supports to build a functional biomaterial called artificial metabolic cell. Based on this concept, different micro-architectures were developed for the co-immobilization of multi-enzyme systems and the expensive cofactors on solid materials.