Bacteriorhodopsin-containing microcapsules and method for producing the same

摘要

A method for producing bacteriorhodopsin-containing microcapsules is described, which can be optically activated, having a diameter of less than 50 μm, preferably less than 10 μm, comprising an enveloping layer, which protects the bacteriorhodopsin from harmful environmental factors, while at the same time preserving the functionality thereof. In doing so, bacteriorhodopsin is suspended in a first step, in the form of PM/BR patches in an aqueous medium having a pH value ranging from 6-9 in the presence of a water-retaining polymer, and said suspension is spray-dried to form a powder, or is dried in an aliphatic solvent using low steam pressure and subsequent dehydration to form a powder. In a second step, the powder obtained in this way is provided with an envelope, which is substantially completely translucent to light in the visible range and made of a polymer and/or a paraffin having a solidification point ranging between 45° C. and 65° C. and/or a carnauba wax having a melting range of 70-90° C. Furthermore, such microcapsules are described, and uses of such microcapsules.

主权项

1. A method for producing optically activatable bacteriorhodopsin-containing microcapsules, the method comprising:
in a first step, suspending bacteriorhodopsin in the form of bacteriorhodopsin/purple membrane patches in an aqueous medium at a pH in the range of 6-9 in the presence of a water-retaining polymer to form a suspension, and spray-drying said suspension to form inner capsules in the form of a powder or drying said suspension in an aliphatic solvent with low vapor pressure and subsequent water removal to form inner capsules in the form of a powder; in a second step, providing the resultant inner capsules with a sheath that is permeable to light in the visible range and is made of at least one of a polymer, a long-chain saturated hydrocarbon and a long-chain saturated fatty acid, so as to obtain microcapsules having a diameter of less than 50 μm, the sheath forming an enveloping layer protecting the bacteriorhodopsin from harmful environmental effects while simultaneously retaining functionality thereof, so that the bacteriorhodopsin in the inner capsules is unaffected by a pH present outside the sheath; and placing the microcapsules in a powder or an aqueous slurry, wherein the bacteriorhodopsin/purple membrane patches have a two-dimensional crystalline structure.