Microencapsulation III: Preparation of invertase microcapsules.

Invertase was incorporated into polyamide microcapsules. The following parameters were studied: pH of the aqueous phase during interfacial polymerization; duration of the polymerization; surfactant concentration; stirring rate; improvements in the isolation procedure; effect of lyophilization. The inactivation of the encapsulated enzyme by pepsin was shown to be related to the acidic incubation medium and prompted incorporation of protective proteins in the microcapsules. This process allowed relative protection of the enzyme. In a second set of experiments, an emulsification-reticulation method was developed, which encapsulated invertase in a cross-linked protein. Various proteins and bifunctional acylating agents were tested. Microcapsules of immobilized invertase were prepared through cross-linking of the enzyme protein itself.