Immobilization of bacterial keratinase enzyme on nanofibers

Enzyme immobilization has emerged as an effective strategy for improving enzyme activity, particularly in the field of nanoscience and nanotechnology. Keratinases, which are proteolytic enzymes found widely in the microbial world, are of great importance in biotechnology due to their ability to process keratin-containing waste such as feathers, hair, and wool. Poly (ε-caprolactone) (PCL) has been extensively used in biomedical applications owing to its biocompatibility, biodegradability, and excellent mechanical properties. Electrospinning is a simple and versatile method for fabricating nano-based scaffolds that offer several advantages for enzyme immobilization. In this study, the keratinase enzyme was loaded onto PCL nanofibers through electrospinning. The diameter and morphology of the fibers were measured using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images and analyzed with ImageJ software. The results showed that the diameter of the nanofibers loaded with keratinase enzyme on PCL was increased, indicating successful immobilization of the enzyme onto the PCL fibers. These findings suggest that Keratinase-PCL fibrous membranes may have the potential for keratinolytic commercial applications. Finally, this study highlights electrospinning as a promising potential technique for enzyme immobilization and the development of novel biomaterials for various applications.