Biocatalytic Paints and Coatings

Enzymes have been used in a variety of forms, including free in solution and immobilized or crosslinked to solid supports. The conventional notion that enzymes are only active in aqueous media has long been discarded due to the numerous studies documenting enzyme activities in nonaqueous media. The incorporation of enzymes and other proteins into polymeric coatings and films has been investigated in this study with the goal of generating biologically active coating materials. Of all the enzymes, hydrolases are the most employed for industrial biotransformations. It is estimated that approximately 80% of all industrially used enzymes are hydrolases. By tailoring organophosphorus hydrolase (OPH) for specific purposes, coating additives have been bioengineered to exhibit activity and/or specificity for decontaminating chemical warfare agents. The incorporation of enzyme-based additives into paints and coatings should allow for self-cleaning surfaces, mold-inhibiting surfaces, deodorizing surfaces, textile coatings, and catalytic coatings for waste stream decontamination.