Two simple procedures for the preparation of magnetic chitosan enzyme microparticles have been investigated and used for the immobilisation of endophytic fungus Cercospora kikuchii lipase as model enzyme. In the first case, lipase was entrapped in Fe3O4-chitosan microparticles by cross-linking method, while in the second case magnetic immobilised derivatives were produced using spray drying. Immobilised enzymes showed high enzyme activity retention and stability during storage without significant loss of activity. Glutaraldehyde Fe3O4-chitosan powders presented a higher lipase activity retention and storage stability than the others preparations. However, the immobilised derivatives produced by cross-linking showed higher enzyme activity after reuse cycles. The results proved that the magnetic Fe3O4-chitosan microparticles are an effective support for the enzyme immobilisation since the immobilised lipase showed best properties than the free form.
Keywords: Bioencapsulation; Cercospora kikuchii; chitosan; enzyme immobilisation; lipase; spray dryer.