Term: immobilization https://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.I02973 Definition: The technique used for the physical or chemical fixation of cells, organelles, enzymes, or other proteins (e.g. monoclonal antibodies) onto a solid support, into a solid matrix or retained by a membrane, in order to increase their stability and make possible their repeated or continued use. The principle is also used for affinity chromatography. Related Terms: 1) organelles (http://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.O04324). 2) enzymes (http://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.E02159). 3) monoclonal antibodies (http://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.M04010). 4) affinity chromatography (http://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.A00177). 5) proteins (http://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.P04898). 6) membrane (http://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.MT06878). Source: PAC, 1992, 64, 143. 'Glossary for chemists of terms used in biotechnology (IUPAC Recommendations 1992)' on page 157 (https://doi.org/10.1351/pac199264010143) Citation: 'immobilization' in IUPAC Compendium of Chemical Terminology, 5th ed. International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry; 2025. Online version 5.0.0, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.I02973 License: The IUPAC Gold Book is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike CC BY-SA 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) for individual terms. Disclaimer: The International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) is continuously reviewing and, where needed, updating terms in the Compendium of Chemical Terminology (the IUPAC Gold Book). Users of these terms are encouraged to include the version of a term with its use and to check regularly for updates to term definitions that you are using.