Bleached cellulose pulp fibers with large surface area (&gt;130 m2/g) are excellent templates for the self-assembly of polyelectrolyte systems with cationic net charge. Moreover, they are biocompatible and produced from renewable sources, available on the large scale at lower costs than synthetic fibers, and show excellent mechanical properties. Taking advantage of these characteristics, an intensive research work has been conducted in the recent decades on the lookout for a wide variety of novel materials and innovative solutions, using cellulose fibers as raw material. Thus, a wide variety of materials have been developed, either at the laboratory and on the large scale (e.g. paper packaging materials with antibacterial properties). In many cases, using cost-effective processes with low environmental impact. The present work describes a simple, controlled, and efficient method for fiber surface modification of bleached pulp fibers, using multifunctional polysaccharide derivatives in aqueous solution. The modified fibers where further used as an efficient template for enzyme immobilization. The characterization of the mentioned fibers was assessed by using Time-of-Flight Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry, and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy. In addition, Stimulated Emission Depletion Microscopy and Two-Photon Excitation Fluorescence Microscopy were useful tools to study the distribution of the biocatalysts on the fiber surfaces. The enzyme activity of the resulting fibers was assessed by UV-vis spectroscopy. Due to the biocatalytic activity, the modified fibers might find application in different areas such as water remediation or paper packaging with antimicrobial properties. Moreover, by using the same approach, a broad range of novel materials and new bioprocesses could be tested, if the correct biocatalysts are selected for the corresponding target applications of the modified fibers.

Cellulose surface modification using polysaccharide multifunctional systems

255th National Meeting (2018)

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