PNNL

Abstract

Nanofibers of an enzyme-polymer composite were successfully electrospun with retained biocatalytic activity. The enzyme, ?-chymotrypsin, was solubilized in toluene via the aid of a surfactant and mixed with a polymer solution of polystyrene and poly(styrene-co-maleic anhydride). The enzyme-polymer solution could be directly electrospun to produce nanofibers with diameters of ~873 nm. The enzyme activity remained stable over the course of one week when nanofibers were treated with 0.1% glutaraldehyde solution. Untreated nanofibers rapidly lost the enzyme activity due to leaching of the enzyme from nanofibers. The nanofiber-based mats were durable and easily recovered from a solution.