Stabilization of Uricase by Immobilization on Poly(Acrylic Acid)-Based Nanogels for Therapeutic and Sensing Applications

Uricase is a therapeutic enzyme which primarily biocatalyzes uric acid to 5-hydroxyisourate and hydrogen peroxide. Its prospective applications in the treatment of gout and hyperuricemia or as sensor can be considerably enhanced via immobilization on biocompatible supports. In the present work, stabilization of uricase was achieved by its immobilization onto a series of new well-characterized biocompatible poly(acrylic acid)based nanogels. Characterization of these nanogels was carried out by X-ray diffraction, Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy to obtain evidence of nanogel formation and its further functionalization to two other nanogel forms bearing -CON3 or -NCO groups. Enhanced activity of the immobilized uricase along with storability and reusability was observed at the physiological conditions, and that makes it a potential candidate for the treatment of gout and hyperuricemia, and also in biosensor applications.