Enzymes: classification and biomedical applications

Enzymes, due to their inherent catalytic applications, form a crucial part in various biological processes. Their ability to recognize specific molecules and facilitate particular chemical reactions are essential in these biochemical transformations. Their regio- and stereo-selectivity in catalyzing various chemical reactions makes them ideal candidates for biomedical applications. A variety of functions, ranging from drug delivery to detection of bioactive molecules, can be effectively carried out with the help of specific enzymes. A few hurdles still plague this effective methodology. One main disadvantage is the isolation of the enzymes as well as their "repurposing" to suit the biomedical application. Often the application involves the immobilization of enzymes onto suitable supports, which may also lead to degradation of their inherent properties. Various research groups are taking these issues into consideration and thereby designing and developing methods to circumvent these disadvantages and utilize enzymatic proteins effectively in different biomedical applications.