Candida bombicola cells immobilized on patterned lipid films as enzyme sources for the transformation of arachidonic acid to 20-HETE.

Preparation of biocompatible surfaces for immobilization of enzymes and whole cells is an important aspect of biotechnology due to their potential applications in biocatalysis, biosensing, and immunological applications. In this report, patterned thermally evaporated octadecylamine (ODA) films are used for the immobilization of Candida bombicola cells. The attachment of the cells to the ODA film surface occurs possibly through nonspecific interactions such as hydrophobic interactions between the cell walls and the ODA molecules. The enzyme cytochrome P450 present in the immobilized yeast cells on the ODA film surface was used for the transformation of the arachidonic acid to 20-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (20-HETE). The assembly of cells on the hydrophobic ODA surface was confirmed by quartz crystal microgravimetry (QCM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). SEM images confirmed the strong binding of the yeast cells to the ODA film surface after biocatalytic reactions. Moreover, the biocomposite films could be easily separated from the reaction medium and reused.