Immobilization of lipase on aminopropyl-grafted mesoporous silica nanotubes for the resolution of (R, S)-1-phenylethanol

Mesoporous silica nanotubes and aminopropyl-grafted mesoporous silica nanotubes were prepared as supports to immobilize lipase from Candida sp. 99-125(ClLip) by physical adsorption. The immobilization conditions were investigated. Moreover, immobilized lipases on both kinds of supports were employed to catalyze olive oil hydrolization and resolution of 1-phenylethanol by esterification. The results showed that the hydrolization activity of the lipase immobilized on aminopropyl-grafted mesoporous silica nanotubes was almost twice of that on mesoporous silica nanotubes. In addition, the resolution of 1-phenylethanol catalyzed by the former catalyst also increased 22%. Circular dichroism spectra revealed a reduction of α-helix and an increase of β-sheet when lipase was adsorbed on aminopropyl-grafted mesoporous silica nanotubes, which suggested that parts of α-helix were extended and reformed to be β-sheet.