Targeted recognition and enhanced biotransformation of phytochemicals by a dual-functional cellulose-based hydrogel bioreactor

The combined technology of molecular imprinting and immobilization is a promising strategy for improving biocatalytic performance. In this work, a dual-functional cellulose-based hydrogel bioreactor with targeted recognition and transformation functions was innovatively designed by cellulose-based molecularly imprinted polymers (CM-MIPs) hydrogel coupled with layered double hydroxide immobilized enzyme (LDH-E). Firstly, CM-MIPs hydrogel was prepared by using phlorizin, 4-pinylpyridine, and cellulose microspheres as template molecule, functional monomer, and support material, respectively. Meanwhile, layered double hydroxide (LDH) taken as a carrier to immobilize β-glucosidase. The prepared LDH was layered sheet-like structure with ultra-thin thickness of approximately only 1.5 nm, and β-glucosidase was immobilized on both sides of the LDH. Further, the dual-functional bioreactor was constructed by the anion exchange, which possessed maximum targeted adsorption capacity to phlorizin of 15.25 mg/g, exhibited 1.2 folds higher transformation efficiency than LDH-E, and the phloretin content increased 26 folds to that in Lithocarpus litseifolius (Hance) Chu leaves extracts. Moreover, the transformation efficiency remained above 70 % even after five consecutive transformations. Overall, the dual-functional bioreactor has broad prospects for the application in targeted recognition and transformation of phytochemicals, and provides a new insight on multifunctional bio-based reactors in natural production field.