Enzyme-functionalised nanobeads for anti-biofouling purposes

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11051517-B2
Application number	US-201615761359-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 16, 2016
Priority date	Sep 17, 2015
Publication date	Jul 6, 2021
Grant date	Jul 6, 2021

Abstract

A composition comprising a silica-based nanobead having its surface functionalized by a moiety selected from moieties that are reactive to and combine with a fouling layer on a material surface.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A recyclable composition for use in treating a fouling layer present on a material surface, the composition comprising a surface-functionalised, silica-based nanobead, wherein the surface is functionalised by a first moiety, the first moiety being an active enzyme selected from Proteinase K, an aldehyde oxidoreductase, a monooxygenase, bile salt-dependent lipase, phospholipase A, phospholipase C, and a DNAse.

2. A recyclable composition according to claim 1 , wherein the silica-based nanobead has an active enzyme coating with a specific reactivity to the fouling layer.

3. A recyclable composition according to claim 1 , wherein the silica-based nanobead is comprised of silicon and an organic-based linker composed by carbon, oxygen and nitrogen.

4. A recyclable composition according to claim 1 , wherein the silica-based nanobead is further functionalized with a second moiety, the second moiety being an active enzyme.

5. A recyclable composition according to claim 1 , wherein the active enzyme is Proteinase K.

6. A recyclable composition according to claim 1 , wherein the silica-based nanobead includes silicon and an organic-based linker containing carbon, oxygen, and nitrogen.

7. A recyclable composition according to claim 6 , wherein the silica-based nanobead consists of silicon, carbon, oxygen, and nitrogen.

8. A recyclable composition according to claim 1 , wherein the silica-based nanobead is spherical or substantially spherical.

9. A recyclable composition according to claim 1 , wherein the composition is water-soluble.

10. A method for removing a fouling layer present on a material surface, the method comprising the steps of:
adding a sufficient quantity of a silica-based nanobead composition comprising the surface-functionalised, silica-based nanobead of claim 1 to the material surface;
incubating the silica-based nanobead composition and fouling layer on the material surface for a sufficient period of time for the composition and fouling layer present on the material surface to interact for treatment; and
separating and removing the silica-based nanobead composition from the treated fouling layer on the material surface following the incubation step.

11. A method according to claim 10 , wherein the separation step is selected from filtration, centrifugation, electrostatic separation and gravimetric precipitation.

12. A method according to claim 10 , wherein the incubation step is performed for between 2 hours to 72 hours.

13. A method according to claim 10 , wherein the silica-based nanobead composition is recycled following the separation step for use in the addition and incubation steps.

14. A method according to claim 10 , wherein the silica-based nanobead composition is recycled following the separation step for use in the addition and incubation steps, and wherein the recycled silica-based nanobead composition is reintroduced to the addition step.

15. A kit for removing a fouling layer from a material surface, the kit comprising a recyclable composition comprising a surface-functionalised, silica-based nanobead, wherein the surface is functionalised by a moiety, the moiety being an active enzyme selected from Proteinase K, an aldehyde oxidoreductase, a monooxygenase, bile salt-dependent lipase, phospholipase A, phospholipase C, and a DNAse.

Assignees

• Univ College Dublin Nat Univ Ireland Dublin

Inventors

• Zanoni Michele
• Amadio Jessica
• Casey Eoin
• Habimana Olivier

Classifications

• C11D3/48

  Medical, disinfecting agents, disinfecting, antibacterial, germicidal or antimicrobial compositions · CPC title

• A01N63/50 Primary

  Isolated enzymes; Isolated proteins (peptides A01N37/46) · CPC title

• C11D17/0039

  Coated compositions or coated components in the compositions, (micro)capsules · CPC title

• C11D3/124

  Silicon containing, e.g. silica, silex, quartz or glass beads · CPC title

• A01N63/10 Primary

  Animals; Substances produced thereby or obtained therefrom · CPC title