CATALYTIC DURABILITY OF MAGNETOPROTEOLIPOSOMES CAPTURED BY HIGH-GRADIENT MAGNETIC FORCES IN A MINIATURE FIXED-BED REACTOR

Cytochrome c-oxidase, used as a model membrane-bound enzyme, was embed ded in phospholipid bilayer membranes, attached to nanometer-sized Fe3 O4 colloids (so-called magnetoliposomes). In comparison with the lipid -depleted free enzyme, both the activity and the enzymatic stability o f the complexes, stored at 4 degrees C, were considerably enhanced. Th ese beneficial properties of magnetoproteoliposomes have been successf ully exploited in a magnetically controlled fixed-bed bioreactor, oper ating in a continuous flow regime. (C) 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.