Enzyme-Immobilized Microfluidic Process Reactors.docVIP

Molecules 2011, 16, 6041-6059; doi:10.3390/moleculeOPEN ACCESS molecules ISSN 1420-3049 /journal/molecules Review Enzyme-Immobilized Microfluidic Process Reactors Yuya Asanomi 1, Hiroshi Yamaguchi 2, Masaya Miyazaki 1,3,4,* and Hideaki Maeda 1,3 1 Measurement Solution Research Center, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), 807-1 Shuku, Tosu, Saga 841-0052, Japan 2 Liberal Arts Education Center, Aso Campus, Tokai University, Minami-aso, Aso, Kumamoto 869-1404, Japan 3 Department of Molecular and Material Sciences, Interdisciplinary Graduate School of Engineering Science, Kyushu University, 6-1 Kasuga-koen, Kasuga, Fukuoka 816-8580, Japan 4 Department of Advanced Technology Fusion, Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Saga University, 1 Honjo, Saga 840-8502, Japan * Author to whom correspondence should be addressed; E-Mail: m.miyazaki@aist.go.jp; Tel.: +81-942-81-4059; Fax: +81-942-81-3627. Received: 24 June 2011; in revised form: 13 July 2011 / Accepted: 17 July 2011 / Published: 19 July 2011 Abstract: Microreaction technology, which is an interdisciplinary science and engineering area, has been the focus of different fields of research in the past few years. Several microreactors have been developed. Enzymes are a type of catalyst, which are useful in the production of substance in an environmentally friendly way, and they also have high potential for analytical applications. However, not many enzymatic processes have been commercialized, because of problems in stability of the enzymes, cost, and efficiency of the reactions. Thus, there have been demands for innovation in process engineering, particularly for enzymatic reactions, and microreaction devices represent important tools for the development of enzyme processes. In this review, we summarize the recent advances of microchannel reaction technologies especially for enzyme