Nucleoside synthesis using a novel macroporous grafted polyethylene as biocatalyst support

Nucleoside analogue synthesis has received much attention because of the wide range of applications that these molecules offer. They are extensively used as antiviral, antitumor and more recently, as starting materials for functional oligonucleotides. Microbial whole cells are efficient, ecological and low cost biocatalysts that have been successfully applied to the preparation of these compounds. A new support for cell immobilization that involves the use of a macroporous polyethylene polymer grafted with chains of polyglycidyl methacrylate–ethylendiamine is described in this paper. High stability and productivity and easy handling are some of the advantages of the here developed biocatalyst.