Magnetically recyclable, antimicrobial, and catalytically enhanced polymer-assisted "green" nanosystem-immobilized...

The present work reports the integration of polymer matrix-supported nanomaterial and enzyme biotechnology for development of industrially feasible biocatalysts. Aqueous leaf extract of Mesua ferrea L. was used to prepare silver nanoparticles distributed within a narrow size range (1-12 nm). In situ oxidative technique was used to obtain poly(ethylene glycol)-supported iron oxide nanoparticles (3-5 nm). Sonication-mediated mixing of above nanoparticles generated the immobilization system comprising of polymer-supported silver-iron oxide nanoparticles (20-30 nm). A commercially important enzyme, Aspergillus niger amyloglucosidase was coupled onto the immobilization system through sonication. The immobilization enzyme registered a multi-fold increment in the specific activity (807 U/mg) over the free counterpart (69 U/mg). Considerable initial activity of the immobilized enzyme was retained even after storing the system at room temperature as well as post-repeated magnetic recycling. Evaluation of the commendable starch saccharification rate, washing performance synergy with a panel of commercial detergents, and antibacterial potency strongly forwards the immobilized enzyme as a multi-functional industrially feasible system.