Polycaprolactone (PCL) Biodegradation Activity and Reusability of Pseudozyma jejuensis Coated with NH2-Functionalized Silica-Encapsulated Fe3O4 Nanoparticles

Abstract

In this study, a novel method to immobilize Pseudozyma jejuensis for polycaprolactone (PCL) biodegradation has been developed using Fe3O4 nanoparticles. The Fe3O4 nanoparticles were encapsulated with silica and functionalized with NH2 groups to enhance their capacity to adsorb on the cell surface. The results show that the NH2-functionalized silica-encapsulated Fe3O4 nanoparticles strongly adsorbed on the cell surface of P. Jejuensis without any interruptions of their normal cell growth. There was a significant increase in the total organic carbon (TOC) concentration of P. Jejuensis cells coated with NH2-functionalized silica-encapsulated Fe3O4 nanoparticles after 10 days biodegradation of PCL at 30 °C. Concerning reusability, the coated cells could completely degrade PCL during the first 2 cycles, and retain ~80% activity for the third and 75% activity of PCL biodegradation for the fourth, fifth, and sixth cycles.