16.9 Conclusions and Future Prospects
for Nanobiocatalysts
Specific properties of nanomaterials give an opportunity to develop unique
nanobiocatalysts that differ from the traditional immobilized enzymes. Proper selection of the nanomaterial, enzyme, and immobilization technique is always crucial for
successful preparation of stable and active biocatalysts. Nanobiocatalysts have
already been introduced in various branches of industries and medicine. A new
approach of nanobiocatalysts utilization is their application for remediation of
contaminated water and soil. In recent years, an enormous number of research papers
have been published on this topic. The application of nanobiocatalysts for wastewater and soil treatment is still under development; however, the increasing interest
of researchers is pushing this technology closer to being applied in real conditions.
Most of the nanobiocatalysts have been tested in standard solutions and showed
enhanced stability and catalytic activity compared to the free form enzymes. The
results pointed to the remediation potential they have. Although a few attempts have
already been made, further studies will have to be performed to evaluate this
technology in real contaminated matrix. All remediation experiments except one
were performed in a lab-scale unit. The lack of pilot scale studies is definitively
limiting broader implementation of nanobiocatalysts for bioremediation of real
wastewater or soil. Another significant hindrance is the price of enzymes.
Enzyme-based nanomaterials found an interesting application in the field of biosensors. Nanobiosensors have high selectivity, fast response, and low detection
limits. Due to their simplicity and relative low cost, they are rapidly developing
and are more often used for detection and monitoring various pollutants in the
environment.
References
Aghababaie M, Beheshti M, Razmjou A, Bordbar A-K (2016) Covalent immobilization of Candida
rugosa lipase on a novel functionalized Fe 3 O 4 @SiO 2 dip-coated nanocomposite membrane.
Food Bioprod Process 100:351–360. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fbp.2016.07.016
Ahmad R, Sardar M (2014) Immobilization of cellulase on TiO 2 nanoparticles by physical and
covalent methods: a comparative study. Indian J Biochem Biophys 51(4):314–320
Ahmad R, Sardar M (2015) Enzyme immobilization: an overview on nanoparticles as immobilization matrix. Biochem Anal Biochem 4(2):1000178. https://doi.org/10.4172/2161-1009.
1000178
Alarcón-Payán DA, Koyani RD, Vazquez-Duhalt R (2017) Chitosan-based biocatalytic
nanoparticles for pollutant removal from wastewater. Enzym Microb Technol 100:71–78.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enzmictec.2017.02.008
Ali M, Husain Q, Alam N, Ahmad M (2017) Enhanced catalytic activity and stability of ginger
peroxidase immobilized on amino-functionalized silica-coated titanium dioxide nanocomposite:
a cost-effective tool for bioremediation. Water Air Soil Pollut 228(1):22. https://doi.org/10.
1007/s11270-016-3205-4
364
M. Čvančarová et al.
for Nanobiocatalysts
Specific properties of nanomaterials give an opportunity to develop unique
nanobiocatalysts that differ from the traditional immobilized enzymes. Proper selection of the nanomaterial, enzyme, and immobilization technique is always crucial for
successful preparation of stable and active biocatalysts. Nanobiocatalysts have
already been introduced in various branches of industries and medicine. A new
approach of nanobiocatalysts utilization is their application for remediation of
contaminated water and soil. In recent years, an enormous number of research papers
have been published on this topic. The application of nanobiocatalysts for wastewater and soil treatment is still under development; however, the increasing interest
of researchers is pushing this technology closer to being applied in real conditions.
Most of the nanobiocatalysts have been tested in standard solutions and showed
enhanced stability and catalytic activity compared to the free form enzymes. The
results pointed to the remediation potential they have. Although a few attempts have
already been made, further studies will have to be performed to evaluate this
technology in real contaminated matrix. All remediation experiments except one
were performed in a lab-scale unit. The lack of pilot scale studies is definitively
limiting broader implementation of nanobiocatalysts for bioremediation of real
wastewater or soil. Another significant hindrance is the price of enzymes.
Enzyme-based nanomaterials found an interesting application in the field of biosensors. Nanobiosensors have high selectivity, fast response, and low detection
limits. Due to their simplicity and relative low cost, they are rapidly developing
and are more often used for detection and monitoring various pollutants in the
environment.
References
Aghababaie M, Beheshti M, Razmjou A, Bordbar A-K (2016) Covalent immobilization of Candida
rugosa lipase on a novel functionalized Fe 3 O 4 @SiO 2 dip-coated nanocomposite membrane.
Food Bioprod Process 100:351–360. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fbp.2016.07.016
Ahmad R, Sardar M (2014) Immobilization of cellulase on TiO 2 nanoparticles by physical and
covalent methods: a comparative study. Indian J Biochem Biophys 51(4):314–320
Ahmad R, Sardar M (2015) Enzyme immobilization: an overview on nanoparticles as immobilization matrix. Biochem Anal Biochem 4(2):1000178. https://doi.org/10.4172/2161-1009.
1000178
Alarcón-Payán DA, Koyani RD, Vazquez-Duhalt R (2017) Chitosan-based biocatalytic
nanoparticles for pollutant removal from wastewater. Enzym Microb Technol 100:71–78.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enzmictec.2017.02.008
Ali M, Husain Q, Alam N, Ahmad M (2017) Enhanced catalytic activity and stability of ginger
peroxidase immobilized on amino-functionalized silica-coated titanium dioxide nanocomposite:
a cost-effective tool for bioremediation. Water Air Soil Pollut 228(1):22. https://doi.org/10.
1007/s11270-016-3205-4
364
M. Čvančarová et al.