High-efficiency PET Degradation with a Duo-enzyme System Immobilized on Magnetic Nanoparticles

Abstract The widespread consumption of PET worldwide has necessitated the search for environment-friendly methods for PET degradation and recycling. Among these methods, biodegradation stands out as a promising approach for recycling PET. The discovery of duo enzyme system PETase and MHETase in 2016, along with their engineered variants, has demonstrated significant potential in breaking down PET. Previous studies have also demonstrated that the activity of the enzyme PETase increases when it is immobilized on nanoparticles. To achieve highly efficient and complete PET depolymerization, we immobilized both FAST PETase and MHETase at a specific ratio on magnetic nanoparticles. This immobilization resulted in a 2.5-fold increase in product release compared with free enzymes. Additionally, we achieved reusability and enhanced stability of the enzyme bioconjugates.