Enzymes or cells which are of relatively large size may be entrapped in a maze of
polymeric molecules (a
gel). This procedure is called immobilization by inclusion. When the
biocatalyst is enclosed inside a semipermeable
membrane, usually approximately spherical, the method is known as encapsulation. In the process
of reticulation the primary
biocatalyst particles (individual enzyme molecules,
cofactors or individual cells) are covalently attached to each other by organic chains, into
a three-dimensional
network. The term grafting is also used in this context.
Attachment to the support by adsorption forces is called immobilization by adsorption.
Source:
Cite as:
IUPAC. Compendium of Chemical Terminology, 2nd ed. (the "Gold Book"). Compiled by
A. D. McNaught and A. Wilkinson. Blackwell Scientific Publications, Oxford (1997).
XML on-line corrected version: http://goldbook.iupac.org (2006-) created by M. Nic,
J. Jirat, B. Kosata; updates compiled by A. Jenkins. ISBN 0-9678550-9-8.
https://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.
