Polymer-nanotube-enzyme composites as active antifouling films

The antifouling properties of composites composed of enzyme-carbon-nanotube conjugates within a polymer matrix, were investigated. The protein resistance of the poly(methyl methacrylate)(PMMA)-single walled carbon nanotube (SWNT)-serum protease subtilisin Carlsberg (SC) films was analyzed using human serum albumin (HSA) and fibrinogen as model proteins. The PMMA-SWNT-SC films were exposed to concentrated solution (1mgmL-1) of HSA for six days and second protease, trypsin was adsorbed onto SWNTs to provide a range of cleavage sites on HSA. It was observed that the decrease in HSA binding was due to the proteolytic degradation of the bound HSA and subsequent desorption of peptide fragments. It was also observed that biocatalytic films incorporating SWNT conjugates of SC and TRY showed no antifouling activity. Result shows that the high activity and stability of biocatalytic films resist nonspecific protein adsorption and prevent microbial fouling activity.