Carrier-bound systems strategy

Despite the advantages of enzymes immobilized on noncatalytic matrices, the yield and productivity of the reaction can be reduced simply due to the presence of the noncatalytic mass of the carrier. There has therefore been much interest in the development of carrier-free systems, in which enzyme molecules are linked to each other to form large complexes. These are inherently immobilized because individual enzyme molecules are no longer free to diffuse in solution, but they are largely undiluted by inert molecules and therefore retain a greater degree of activity than carrier-bound enzymes. This article discusses strategies for enzyme immobilization in carrier-based and carrier-free systems and considers some of their major applications. 

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