Immobilization of Lysozyme on Cotton Fabrics: Synthesis, Characterization, and Activity

Lysozyme was attached to three cotton fabrics through a glycine amino acid linker esterifi ed to cotton cellulose. Lysozyme bound to cotton twill using a carbodiimide-mediated coupling reaction gave the best lysozyme incorporation (16.1 mg/g of cotton). Cotton spunlace nonwoven fabric bound slightly less lysozyme (12.8 mg/g of cotton), but had the best antimicrobial activity. Woven print cloth bound the least lysozyme (4 mg/g of cotton). Characterization of lysozyme on the fabric was performed using Fourier transform infrared and nitrogen analysis. Increases in amide I and amide II infrared frequencies were evident with increased lysozyme incorporation. Lysozyme-cellulose conjugate activity was assessed with a turbidity clearing assay using Micrococcus lysodeikticus. Th e order of lysozyme-fabric antimicrobial activity was nonwoven > twill > print cloth. Key Terms Antimicrobial, Carbodiimide, Cotton, Covalent Attachment, Immobilization, Lysozyme Th e mention of diff erent products and/or their manufacturer is solely for the purpose of research. Th e mention does not imply any endorsement by USDA.