(188z) Lab-On-a-Chip: a Novel Platform for Enzyme Catalyzed Polymerization Reactions

Application of microreactor technologies enable improved safety, selectivity and yield in a wide range of chemical reactions in addition to new measurement methods that are often faster, cheaper and more accurate than traditional methods. In this study we have considered a model system, Candida Antartica Lipase B (CAL B) catalyzed ring opening polymerization of ε-caprolactone to polycaprolactone. CAL B was immobilized on polymethyl methacrylate support (Lewatit) and was loaded in the inexpensive metal microchannel reactors. We have studied the effect of retention time and reaction temperature on the molecular weight and polydispersity of polycaprolactone. Raman spectroscopy and gel permeation chromatography (GPC) were used to characterize the percentage conversion of the reactants and molecular mass of the reaction products, respectively. By implementing a suitable reactor design we achieve (1) faster polymerization rate and (2) higher molecular weight of polycaprolactone compared to that obtained in batch reactors at similar experimental conditions. Experiments were also performed in continuous mode for an extended time to understand the change of enzyme activity as a function of time. Stability of the adsorbed enzyme on the hydrophobic support surfaces was also investigated using Quartz Crystal Microbalance (QCM).