Polyethylenimine-dextran sulfate polyelectrolyte complexes (PEC) were used to entrap two enzymes used to degrade polymer gels following hydraulic fracturing of oil wells in order to obtain delayed release and to protect the enzyme from harsh conditions. Degradation, as revealed by reduction in viscoelastic moduli, of borate-crosslinked hydroxypropyl guar gel by commercial enzyme loaded in polyelectrolyte nanoparticles was delayed up to 11 hours, compared to about three hours for equivalent systems where the enzyme mixture was not entrapped.
