Preparation and characterisation of a Ni²⁺/Co²⁺-cyclam modified mesoporous cellular foam for the specific immobilisation of His₆-alanine racemase

Nickel and cobalt cyclam modified mesocellular foam (MCF) materials were prepared and characterised. The metal cyclam modified materials displayed reduced surface areas and pore diameters in comparison to MCF. The modified materials were used to specifically anchor a histidine tagged form of the enzyme, alanine racemase (HT-AlaR). Non-specific adsorption was predominantly hydrophobic//hydrophilic in nature and could be significantly reduced in the presence of 2% polyethylene glycol. The activity of HT-AlaR immobilised on Ni and Co-MCF was essentially the same as that of the free enzyme, demonstrating that enzymes can be specifically immobilised within the pores of mesoporous materials in a stable and catalytically active manner.