Enzymatic Oxidation of Cholesterol Aggregates in Supercritical Carbon Dioxide

Abstract

Fundamental studies of enzyme-solvent interactions can be conducted with supercritical fluids because small changes in pressure or temperature may bring about great changes in the properties of a single solvent near its critical point. Cholesterol oxidase is active in supercritical carbon dioxide and supercritical carbon dioxide-cosolvent mixtures. Variations in solvent power caused by pressure changes or by the addition of dopants affected the rate of enzymatic oxidation of cholesterol by altering the structure of cholesterol aggregates.