Hydrophilic Nonwoven Nanofiber Membranes as Nanostructured Supports for Enzyme Immobilization
Antonio L. Medina‐Castillo, Lucija Ruzic, Bernd Nidetzky, Juan M. Bolívar
Abstract
± 35,019 Da; PDI = 1.41) was used to manufacture (without additives or chemical crosslinking processes) hydroxylated nonwoven nanofiber membranes (NV-NF-Ms-OH; 300 nm in fiber diameter) with excellent mechanical and chemical properties. The morphology of NV-NF-Ms-OH was studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The suitability for enzyme binding was proven by designing a palette of different surface functionalization to enable both reversible and irreversible enzyme immobilization. NV-NF-Ms-OH were successfully functionalized with vinyl sulfone (281 ± 20 μmol/g), carboxyl (560 ± 50 μmol/g), and amine groups (281 ± 20 μmol/g) and applied for the immobilization of two enzymes of biotechnological interest. Galactose oxidase was immobilized on vinyl sulfone-activated materials and carboxyl-activated materials, while laccase was immobilized onto amine-activated materials. These preliminary results are a promising basis for the application of nonwoven membranes in enzyme technology.