Antimicrobial and antioxidant linen via laccase-assisted grafting

• Author(s): Silva, Carla Manuela ; Matamá, Maria Teresa ; Padrão, Jorge ; Kim, Suyeon ; Prasetyo, E. N. ; Kudanga, T. ; Nyanhongo, Gibson S. ; Guebitz, G. M. ; Casal, Margarida ; Paulo, Artur Cavaco
• Date: 2011
• Persistent ID: http://hdl.handle.net/1822/14793
• Origin: RepositóriUM - Universidade do Minho
• Subject(s): Chitosan; Catechin; Laccase; Polymerization; Linen
• Document Type: Article
• Language: English

Description

A laccase from Ascomycetemyceliophthora thermophila was used to assist the binding of chitosan and catechin onto a previous enzymatically oxidized linen surface. The process consists of the pre-treatment of the linen with laccase followed by the application of chitosan in a first step and catechin plus laccase in a second step. The results presented here support the conclusion that laccase is able to oxidize phenols naturally existing in flax fibres, and that the o-quinones formed promote the attachment of chitosan or/and catechin. The pre-treatment of linen with laccase is therefore the key factor for the success of catechin and chitosan grafting. A multifunctional linen product with both antioxidant and antibacterial properties was obtained with an acceptable level of durability in terms of end user requirements.