Microfluidic reactor with immobilized enzyme-from construction to applications: A review

Microfluidic, as the systems for using microchannel (micron- or sub-micron scale) to process or manipulate microflow, is being widely applied in enzyme biotechnology and biocatalysis. Microfluidic immobilized enzyme reactor (MIER) is a tool with great value for the study of catalytic property and optimal reaction parameter in a flourishing and highly producing manner. In view of its advantages in efficiency, economy, and addressable recognition especially, MIER occupies an important position in the investigation of life science, including molecular biology, bioanalysis and biosensing, biocatalysis etc. Immobilization of enzymes can generally improve their stability, and upon most occasions, the immobilized enzyme is endowed with recyclability. In this review, the enzyme immobilization techniques applied in MIER will be discussed, followed by summarizing the novel developments in the field of MIER for biocatalysis, bioconversion and bioanalysis. The preponderances and deficiencies of the current state-of-the-art preparation ways of MIER are peculiarly discussed. In addition, the prospects of its future study are outlined.