Chitosan-modified carboxylated magnetic nanoparticles immobilized glycosidases for the production of icaritin

In recent years, nanomaterials have emerged as prominent carriers in biomedical applications. This trend aims to address limitations inherent in traditional enzyme immobilization methods and reduce the costs associated with enzyme biocatalysts in industrial processes. In this study, we selected non-toxic magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs), distinguished by their exceptional biocompatibility, as immobilization carriers to overcome the inherent instability and non-reusability of free enzymes. The MNPs were coated with chitosan to form a protective layer, thereby significantly enhancing enzyme stability. This approach also circumvented the need for precipitants, thereby avoiding the associated damage observed in conventional cross-linking. Building upon this foundation, glucosidase and rhamnosidase were immobilized onto these modified MNPs for converting Epimedin C into Icaritin. Compared to conventional cross-linked enzyme aggregation techniques, this system exhibited superior catalytic efficiency. Furthermore, the immobilized enzyme system enables rapid magnetic separation of the reaction product. Notably, the immobilized enzymes retained approximately 70 % of their initial activity after eight reuse cycles, demonstrating significant potential for industrial-scale applications. These findings demonstrate the potential of chitosan-modified magnetic nanoparticles as efficient, reusable enzyme carriers for sustainable biocatalytic processes in pharmaceutical and industrial applications.