Preparation and application of silica nanoparticles-Ocimum basilicum seeds bio-hybrid for the efficient immobilization of invertase enzyme.

For efficient utilization of immobilized invertase enzyme, a novel bio-hybrid support comprising silica nanoparticles and Ocimum basilicum seed was synthesized. Ocimum basilicum seeds provide a natural fibrouspellicular structure which acts as template for assembly of silica nanoparticles. Bio-hybrids of two different morphologies have been obtained by changing the physico-chemical conditions of the assembly process. Developed bio-hybrids were characterized through small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Synchrotron radiation based X-ray micro-computed tomography (SRμCT), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Incorporation of the nanoparticles results to a fourfold increase in the available surface area of the seeds which is one of the important criteria for an immobilizing support. Synthesized bio-hybrids were used for the immobilization of commercially applicable invertase enzyme and efficient loading of enzyme was realized. Enzyme immobilized bio-hybrids could be easily separated out and reused up to eight times with 82 % retention of enzyme activity. Present work suggests that the unique features of the bio-hybrid make it suitable candidate for immobilization of enzymes in general.