Page 77 - Advances in Textile Biotechnology

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Smart textiles and biomaterials containing
enzymes or enzyme substrates

E. WEHRSCHÜTZ-SIGL, A. HASMANN and
G. M. GUEBITZ, Graz University of Technology, Austria

Abstract: The high specificity of enzymes can be exploited for the design

of smart materials. When immobilized on materials such as fabrics,
enzymes can impart novel sophisticated functionalities ranging from
antimicrobial effects to wound healing, self-cleaning or self-detoxifying
properties. A variety of enzymes (in particular oxidoreductases and
hydrolases) have been attached or incorporated into functional materials
with distinct strategies which are reviewed here. In addition, enzymes
can be used as triggers to impart bioresponsive properties to materials
containing specific elements susceptible to modification by these

biocatalysts. Thus the controlled release of functional molecules such as
drugs, antimicrobial substances or perfumes from materials can be
achieved.
Key words: smart materials, enzymes, bioresponsive materials, controlled
release.

3.1 Introduction
Today’s smart materials are expected to detect changes in their environ-
ment and respond with specific actions. Many ideas for such functional

materials have been inspired by nature. The skin of a dolphin displays
hydrolytic enzymes on the surface and is thus self-cleaning. In detail, a
zymogel on the skin of Globicephala melas hydrolyses adhesive glycocon-
jugates secreted by biofouling micro-organisms thereby preventing their
settlement (Baum et al., 2001). Mimicking this strategy, coatings containing
proteases (i.e. subtilisin) have been developed for use in self-cleaning tex-
tiles (Tong et al., 2008) or antifouling membranes (Chen et al., 1992) whereas
textiles self-decontaminating from warfare agents and pesticides or toxic
microbes have already become reality (Edwards and Goheen, 2006).
In several areas, smart materials are constructed such that they respond
to triggers (e.g. enzymes) allowing a controlled release of active agents
(such as drugs and perfumes). Many active agents used in pharmaceutics,
food and agriculture require temporal stabilization and protection against
degradation or oxidation (Hattori et al., 1995). In addition, the effi cacy of
such agents may be improved by increasing their solubility or by masking

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