Lipase Catalyzed Synthesis of Renewable Micelles

Abstract

Herein, we present our efforts towards the synthesis of organic micelles using fatty acids derived from Camelina seeds and a simple sugar like fructose. A micelle is a tiny, spherical cluster with hydrophilic heads on the outer layer and hydrophobic tails inside the molecule. The micelles form spontaneously due to the hydrophobic effect. The polar heads allow the micelles to be soluble in an aqueous solution, like blood, while the non polar tails are able to transport lipid soluble compounds, like many pharmaceuticals. Camelina seeds are a common crop of Eastern Montana offering a renewable source of fatty acids from Montana grown crops. These fatty acids were liberated from the seed oil by use of a lipase enzyme and reactions were performed with immobilized lipase and molecular sieves to promote water removal and drive esterification forward. Using renewable and abundant sources such as camelina oil and a simple sugar like fructose allows for the natural product synthesis of a micelle for in vivo drug delivery.