Laccase Enzyme Polymerization by Soft Plasma Jet for Durable Bioactive Coatings

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Surface Chemistry
• Plasma Physics

Background:

• Enzyme immobilization is crucial for biocatalyst development.
• Plasma polymerization offers novel surface modification techniques.
• Cerrena unicolor laccase is a valuable enzyme for various applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To immobilize bioactive Cerrena unicolor laccase coatings using Soft Plasma Polymerization (SPP).
• To evaluate the bioactivity and durability of plasma-deposited laccase coatings.
• To compare plasma-assisted deposition with conventional methods.

Main Methods:

• Continuous wave Helium Corona plasma discharge for Soft Plasma Polymerization (SPP).
• Immobilization of polymerized bioactive Cerrena unicolor laccase onto glass surfaces.
• Testing of coating bioactivity and durability under water wash conditions.
• Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy for chemical analysis.

Main Results:

• Plasma-deposited laccase coatings retained up to 59% bioactivity in water.
• Laccase coatings on glass exhibited 7 times higher activity after water wash compared to non-plasma methods.
• FTIR analysis suggested minimal damage to the core laccase structure, with bonding involving peripheral regions.
• The SPP process enabled direct polymerization without additional matrix materials.

Conclusions:

• Helium Corona plasma SPP is an effective method for creating durable and bioactive laccase coatings.
• Plasma-assisted immobilization enhances enzyme activity and stability, particularly on glass surfaces.
• This technique presents a promising, simple approach for biocatalyst, sensor, and lab-on-a-chip applications.