Microparticle-Based Strategy for Controlled Release of Substrate for the Biocatalytic Preparation of L-Homophenylalanine

Substrate inhibition is a universal challenge in biocatalytic process development. Herein, a controlled release of substrate from the microparticles was introduced and demonstrated to tackle this issue to increase the biocatalytic efficiency. Using phenylalanine dehydrogenase catalyzed production of L-homophenylalanine as a model reaction, and substrate-loaded microparticles were prepared and used as a reservoir to load a high amount of substrate and to control the release rate into the reaction media. Consequently, highly efficient biocatalysis could be sustainably achieved in the complex reaction system through constantly lowering the substrate concentration.