New lysozyme-modified Pt/rGO microengines for efficient bacteria degradation

This paper is aimed to synthesize and characterize lysozyme-modified microengines for the degradation of bacteria. For this purpose, Pt/reduced graphene oxide (rGO) microengines were synthesized and modified covalently with lysozyme enzyme. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy analysis (EDX) techniques were used for the characterization. The pH, temperature and substrate concentration-dependent activities of lysozyme-modified microengines were investigated and compared with the free lysozyme. In addition, the high thermal and storage stability of lysozyme-modified microengines has been demonstrated. Lysozyme-modified microengines degraded 100% of Micrococcus lysodeikticus within 5 min. Bacterial degradation was photographed under the microscope, and the movement of microengines carrying lysozyme with bubble was also videoed. Microengines functionalized with lysozyme prepared in this study can potentially be used to destroy bacteria in environmental applications. (author)