In situ generation of antibacterial and antiviral agents by harnessing the catalytic activity of enzymes on surfaces provides an effective eco-friendly approach for disinfection. The perhydrolase (AcT) from Mycobacterium smegmatis catalyzes the perhydrolysis of acetate esters to generate the potent disinfectant, peracetic acid (PAA). In the presence of AcT and its two substrates, propylene glycol diacetate and H2O2, sufficient and continuous PAA is generated over an extended time to kill a wide range of bacteria with the enzyme dissolved in aqueous buffer. For extended self-disinfection, however, active and stable AcT bound onto or incorporated into a surface coating is necessary. We have developed an active, stable and reusable AcT-based coating was developed by incorporating AcT into a polydopamine (PDA) matrix in a single step, thereby forming a biocatalytic composite onto a variety of surfaces [Wang et al. Sci. Rep. 11, 12410, 2021]. The resulting AcT-PDA composite coatings on glass, metal and epoxy surfaces yielded up to 7-log reduction of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria when in contact with the biocatalytic coating (Figure 1). As a result, this enzyme-polymer composite technique may serve as a general strategy for preparing antibacterial and antiviral surfaces for applications in health care and common infrastructure safety, such as in schools, the workplace, transportation, etc.
Figure 1. Schematic illustration of single-step fabrication of AcT-polydopamine composite coatings. Incorporation of AcT into polydopamine on a flat surface, via entrapment and/or covalent reaction with the polymer matrix, leads to a stable enzyme-polymer composite coating. The enzymatic reaction of AcT with propylene glycol diacetate and hydrogen peroxide to give peracetic acid is shown, leading to antimicrobial activity. [Wang et al. Sci. Rep. 11, 12410, 2021]
