Contamination of food products by spoilage and pathogenic microorganisms during post process handling is one of the major causes for food spoilage and food borne illnesses. The present green sustainable approach describes the covalent immobilization of papain to LDPE (low density polyethylene), HDPE (high density polyethylene), LLDPE (linear low density polyethylene) and PCL (polycaprolactam) with curcumin as the photocrosslinker. About 50% of curcumin and 82-92% of papain were successfully immobilized on these polymers. After 30 days, the free enzyme retained 87% of its original activity, while the immobilized enzyme retained more than 90% of its activity on these polymers. Papain crosslinked to LLDPE exhibited the best antibiofilm properties against Acinetobacter sp. KC119137.1 and Staphylococcus aureus NCIM 5021 when compared to the other three polymers, because of the highest amount of enzyme immobilized on this surface. Papain acts by damaging the cell membrane. The enzyme is able to reduce the amount of carbohydrate and protein contents in the biofilms formed by these organisms. Meat wrapped with the modified LDPE and stored at 4°C showed 9 log reduction of these organisms at the end of the seventh day when compared to samples wrapped with the bare polymer. This method of crosslinking can be used on polymers with or without functional groups and can be adopted to bind any type of antimicrobial agent.
Long term use of polyurethane-based ureteral stent is hampered by the development of infection due to the formation of bacterial biofilm and salt deposition. Here papain, is covalently immobilized to polyurethane using glutarldehyde and is investigated as a possible anti-infective ureteral stent material. Fourier transform infrared spectrum confirmed its immobilization. Immobilized enzyme retained 85% of the activity of the free enzyme and about 12% loss of enzyme was observed from the polymer surface in one month. The modified polyurethane showed 8 log reduction in Staphylococcus aureus and 7 log reduction in Escherichia coli live colonies and 3-4 times decrease in the protein and carbohydrate in the biofilms than bare polymer. The amount of calcium and magnesium salts deposited on the polymer surface reduced by 40% after enzyme immobilization. 80% of L6 myoblast cells were viable on this material which indicated that it was noncytotoxic. A linear regression equation with hydrophilicity of the polymer surface and the cell surface hydrophobicity as the two independent variables was able to predict the number of live cells attached on the modified PU. This study indicated the possibility of using such an approach to overcome the problems of ureteral stent associated biofilm and salt encrustation.
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