Laccase-Functionalized Graphene Oxide Assemblies as Efficient Nanobiocatalysts for Oxidation Reactions

Area of Science:

• Biotechnology
• Nanotechnology
• Enzyme Engineering

Background:

• Enzyme immobilization is crucial for enhancing biocatalyst stability and reusability.
• Graphene oxide (GO) offers a versatile platform for nanomaterial development due to its large surface area and tunable surface chemistry.
• Developing efficient nano-biocatalysts is essential for various industrial applications, including environmental remediation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To prepare and characterize multi-layer graphene oxide-enzyme nanoassemblies.
• To investigate the effect of layer number on the catalytic properties of the nanoassemblies.
• To evaluate the stability and efficiency of the nano-biocatalysts in catalyzing specific reactions.

Main Methods:

• Covalent immobilization of laccase from Trametes versicolor (TvL) onto functionalized graphene oxide (fGO).
• Preparation of multi-layer nanoassemblies with varying numbers of graphene oxide-enzyme layers.
• Characterization of nanoassembly properties, including thermal stability and catalytic activity.
• Assessing the catalytic performance in anthracene oxidation and pinacyanol chloride decolorization.

Main Results:

• Successfully prepared multi-layer graphene oxide-enzyme nanoassemblies (fGO-TvL).
• Catalytic activity was dependent on the number of graphene oxide-enzyme layers.
• Nanoassemblies exhibited enhanced thermal stability, with a 4.7-fold higher activity at 60 °C compared to the free enzyme.
• Efficiently catalyzed anthracene oxidation and pinacyanol chloride decolorization.
• Nano-biocatalysts retained high decolorization activity after five reaction cycles.

Conclusions:

• Multi-layer graphene oxide-enzyme nanoassemblies demonstrate superior thermal stability and catalytic efficiency.
• The developed nano-biocatalysts are effective for pollutant oxidation and dye decolorization.
• The reusability and stability of these nanoassemblies highlight their potential for practical applications in biocatalysis.