Catalase Immobilization on Electrospun Nanofibers: Effects of Porphyrin Pendants and Carbon Nanotubes

Hybrid Zn-β-Aminoporphyrin-Carbon Nanotubes: Pyrrolidine and Direct Covalent Linkage Recognition, and Multiple-Photo Response

To unveil and shape the molecular connectivity in (metallo)porphyrin-carbon nanotube hybrids are of main relevance for the multiple medicinal, photoelectronic, catalytic, and photocatalytic applications of these materials. Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were modified through 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reactions with azomethine ylides generated in situ and carrying pentafluorophenyl groups, followed by immobilization of the β-amino-tetraphenylporphyrinate Zn(II). The functionalities were confirmed via XPS and FTIR, whereas Raman spectroscopy showed disruptions on the graphitic carbon nanotube surface upon both steps. The functionalization extension, measured via TGA mass loss and corroborated via XPS, was 0.2 mmol·g-1. Photophysical studies attest to the presence of the different porphyrin-carbon nanotube connectivity in the nanohybrid. Significantly different emission spectra and fluorescence anisotropy of 0.15-0.3 were observed upon variation of excitation wavelength. Vis-NIR absorption and flash photolysis experiments showed energy/charge transfer in the photoactivated nanohybrid. Moreover, evidence was found for direct reaction of amino groups with a carbon nanotube surface in the presence of molecular dipoles such as the zwitterionic sarcosine amino acid.

A review on surface functionalization of carbon nanotubes: methods and applications

In this review, the radiolytic and physical methods that can be used for the functionalization of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and their applications as a support for fuel cell electrodes are described. Alloy nanoparticles have also been examined. For example, Pt-Ru nanoparticles were deposited onto a functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWNT) composite by reducing metal ions (e.g., Pt4+ and Ru3+) here using γ-irradiation and, hence, creating Pt-Ru/MWNT catalysts. The morphology, size, and composition of these Pt-Ru/MWNT catalysts were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and elemental analysis, respectively. The efficiency of the Pt-Ru/MWNT catalyst was examined for use in the oxidation of carbon monoxide (CO) and methanol. The results of stripping voltammetry for the adsorbed CO on the Pt-Ru/MWNT catalyst electrodes indicated that CO oxidation was energetically favorable at these electrodes. Thus, Pt-Ru/MWNT catalysts were found to be suitable for electrode assembly in direct methanol fuel cells.

Biodegradation of environmental pollutants using catalase-based biocatalytic systems

The synergistic combination of biocatalysts and nanomaterials provides a new interface of a robust biocatalytic system that can effectively remediate environmental pollutants. Enzymes, such as catalase-based constructs, impart the desired candidature for catalytic transformation processes and are potential alternatives to replace conventional remediation strategies that have become laborious and somewhat inefficient. Furthermore, the controlled or uncontrolled discharge of various emerging pollutants (EPs) into water bodies is equally proportional to the fast-growing population and extensive urbanization. EPs affect the entire living being and continuously deteriorate the environmental system, directly or indirectly. The occurrence of EPs (even released after partial treatments, but still in bioactive forms) disturbs ecological integrity. Due to the ineffectiveness of in-practice traditional remediation processes, new and robust treatment measures as effective and sustainable remediation have become a meaningful goal. In this context, special attention has been shifted to engineering an enzyme (catalase)-based biodegradation system with immense prospects in environmental cleanup. The unique synergistic combination of nanomaterials (having multifunctional attributes) with enzymes of interest makes them a state-of-the-art interface that can further ameliorate bio-catalysis and biodegradation performance. This review covers current research and scientific advancement in developing and deploying catalase-based biocatalytic systems to mitigate several EPs from the environment matrices. The biocatalytic features of catalase, along with the mechanistic insight into H₂O₂ neutralization, several nano-based materials loaded with catalase, including nanoparticles (NPs), carbon nanotubes (CNTs), metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), polymeric-based composites, oxime-functionalized cryo-gel disks, electro-spun nanofibrous membranes, and other hybrid materials have also been discussed with suitable examples.

Immobilization of Camel Liver Catalase on Nanosilver-Coated Cotton Fabric

Nanoparticles have the advantage of a superior surface area to volume ratio, and thus such materials are useful for enzyme immobilization. A silver nanoparticle coated cotton fabric (AgNp-CF) is used to immobilize camel liver catalase in the present work. The effect of loading levels of AgNp inside cotton fabrics on the immobilization of catalase was investigated. The results revealed that a 6 mL loading level of AgNp precursor (silver nitrate, 2 mM) at pH 8 showed the maximum immobilization efficiency (76%). The morphological properties of the cotton fabric (CF), AgNp-CF and AgNp-CF-catalase were characterized by SEM. The reusability of the immobilized enzyme was tested over ten reuses to show a 67% retained function of its initial activity. Compared with the soluble enzyme’s working pH (6.5), a rather broader working pH (6.5–7.0) was observed for the immobilized catalase. Additionally, the optimum working temperature increased from 30 for the soluble enzyme to 40 °C for the immobilized one, indicating thermal stability. The free and immobilized catalase enzyme’s Km values were 22.5 and 25 mM H2O2, respectively, reflecting the enzyme’s effective properties. The inhibitory effect of metal ions on the enzyme activity was higher toward soluble catalase than the immobilized catalase. This work has developed a method for immobilizing catalase to be useful for several applications.

Improving of catalase stability properties by encapsulation in alginate/Fe3O4 magnetic composite beads for enzymatic removal of H2O2

The aim of this study was enhancing of stability properties of catalase enzyme by encapsulation in alginate/nanomagnetic beads. Amounts of carrier (10-100 mg) and enzyme concentrations (0.25-1.5 mg/mL) were analyzed to optimize immobilization conditions. Also, the optimum temperature (25-50°C), optimum pH (3.0-8.0), kinetic parameters, thermal stability (20-70°C), pH stability (4.0-9.0) operational stability (0-390 min), and reusability were investigated for characterization of the immobilized catalase system. The optimum pH levels of both free and immobilized catalase were 7.0. At the thermal stability studies, the magnetic catalase beads protected 90% activity, while free catalase maintained only 10% activity at 70°C. The thermal profile of magnetic catalase beads was spread over a large area. Similarly, this system indicated the improving of the pH stability. The reusability, which is especially important for industrial applications, was also determined. Thus, the activity analysis was done 50 times in succession. Catalase encapsulated magnetic alginate beads protected 83% activity after 50 cycles.

An overview of technologies for immobilization of enzymes and surface analysis techniques for immobilized enzymes

The current demands of sustainable green methodologies have increased the use of enzymatic technology in industrial processes. Employment of enzyme as biocatalysts offers the benefits of mild reaction conditions, biodegradability and catalytic efficiency. The harsh conditions of industrial processes, however, increase propensity of enzyme destabilization, shortening their industrial lifespan. Consequently, the technology of enzyme immobilization provides an effective means to circumvent these concerns by enhancing enzyme catalytic properties and also simplify downstream processing and improve operational stability. There are several techniques used to immobilize the enzymes onto supports which range from reversible physical adsorption and ionic linkages, to the irreversible stable covalent bonds. Such techniques produce immobilized enzymes of varying stability due to changes in the surface microenvironment and degree of multipoint attachment. Hence, it is mandatory to obtain information about the structure of the enzyme protein following interaction with the support surface as well as interactions of the enzymes with other proteins. Characterization technologies at the nanoscale level to study enzymes immobilized on surfaces are crucial to obtain valuable qualitative and quantitative information, including morphological visualization of the immobilized enzymes. These technologies are pertinent to assess efficacy of an immobilization technique and development of future enzyme immobilization strategies.

Effect of Cultivation Time and Medium Condition in Production of Bacterial Cellulose Nanofiber for Urease Immobilization

A new nanoporous biomatrix originated from bacterial resources has been chosen for urease immobilization. Urease has been immobilized on synthesized bacterial cellulose nanofiber since this enzyme has a key role in nitrogen metabolism.Gluconacetobacter xylinumATCC 10245 has been cultivated for synthesis of a nanofiber with the diameter of 30–70 nm. Different cultivation processes in the aspect of time and cultivation medium conditions were chosen to study the performance of immobilized enzyme on four types of bacterial cellulose nanofibers (BCNs). Urease immobilization into the nanofiber has been done in two steps: enzyme adsorption and glutaraldehyde cross-linking. The results showed that the immobilized enzymes were relatively active and highly stable compared to the control samples of free enzymes. Optimum pH was obtained 6.5 and 7 for different synthesized BCNs, while the optimum temperature for immobilized urease was 50°C. Finding of the current experiment illustrated that the immobilized enzyme in optimum condition lost its initial activity by 41% after 15 weeks.

Robust nanobioconjugates of Candida antarctica lipase B--multiwalled carbon nanotubes: characterization and application for multiple usages in non-aqueous biocatalysis

Present work elucidates two approaches for covalent attachment of the enzyme Candida antarctica lipase B (CALB) on multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). One method of enzyme immobilization involved carbodiimide chemistry while in the other approach, the cross linker (3-Aminopropyl) triethoxysilane (APTES) followed by succinic acid anhydride (SAA) were employed prior to carbodiimide activation. Modified MWCNTs were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transformation infrared spectroscopic (FTIR), Raman spectroscopy and thermal gravitometric analysis (TGA). The lipase-MWCNTs conjugates were applied for synthesis of the flavor ester 'pentyl valerate' in cyclohexane and effects of solvent, temperature and agitation on ester synthesis were studied. Upon subject to reusability studies for 50 cycles, the bionanoconjugates were found to be highly sturdy and exhibited ≈ 79% activity (immobilization using carbodiimide) whereas the nanoconjugate prepared using APTES and SAA retained only up to ≈ 30% activity.

Multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) reinforced cellulose fibers by electrospinning

Multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were successfully incorporated in ultrafine cellulose fibers by electrospinning MWCNT-loaded cellulose acetate (CA) solutions, followed by deacetylation of CA to cellulose (cell). The mean fiber diameter reduced from 321 nm of the as-spun fibers to 257 and 228 nm of those with 0.11 and 0.55 wt % MWCNTs, respectively, and became more uniform. Hydrolysis of CA to cell further reduced the mean fiber sizes by another 8-16%. The MWCNTs were observed to be well-aligned along the fiber axes. The MWCNT/cell composite fibers had increased specific surface, from 4.27 m(2)/g to 5.07 and 7.69 m(2)/g at 0.11 and 0.55 wt % MWCNTs, respectively, and much improved water wettability. The mechanical properties of the fibers were also greatly enhanced with increased MWCNT loading levels. The fact that MWCNTs were observed in only about a third of the fibers at a very low 0.55 wt % loading suggests significantly higher tensile strength may be achieved by a further increase in MWCNT loadings.

Polymer surfaces structured with random or aligned electrospun nanofibers to promote the adhesion of blood platelets

Fibrous membranes (nonwoven meshes) prepared via electrospinning technique have great potential in tissue engineering. This work is the first study on the behaviors of blood platelets at the nanostructured surface generated by electrospinning. Poly[acrylonitrile-co-(N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone)] (PANCNVP) that shows excellent antiplatelet adhesion ability was directly electrospun onto its dense membrane surface. Polyacrylonitrile (PAN) samples were used as controls. The depth as well as the density of the nanofibers can be easily controlled. The results showed that the PANCNVP dense membrane certainly suppressed the activation and adhesion of platelets. However, whether the nanofibers and underlying membranes were composed of PAN or PANCNVP, the nanostructured surfaces promoted the activation, adhesion, and orientation of platelets. It was also found that, if the space between fibers was too large or the depth of fibers was too small, the nanostructured surface did not change the property of antiplatelet adhesion of PANCNVP. The promotion of activation and adhesion of platelets was obviously due to the presence of nanofibers, which induced the changes of surface topography and charge.

A review on direct electrochemistry of catalase for electrochemical sensors

Catalase (CAT) is a heme enzyme with a Fe^(III/II) prosthetic group at its redox centre. CAT is present in almost all aerobic living organisms, where it catalyzes the disproportionation of H₂O₂ into oxygen and water without forming free radicals. In order to study this catalytic mechanism in detail, the direct electrochemistry of CAT has been investigated at various modified electrode surfaces with and without nanomaterials. The results show that CAT immobilized on nanomaterial modified electrodes shows excellent catalytic activity, high sensitivity and the lowest detection limit for H₂O₂ determination. In the presence of nanomaterials, the direct electron transfer between the heme group of the enzyme and the electrode surface improved significantly. Moreover, the immobilized CAT is highly biocompatible and remains extremely stable within the nanomaterial matrices. This review discusses about the versatile approaches carried out in CAT immobilization for direct electrochemistry and electrochemical sensor development aimed as efficient H₂O₂ determination. The benefits of immobilizing CAT in nanomaterial matrices have also been highlighted.