Deposition and characterization of Laccase thin films obtained by Matrix Assisted Pulsed Laser Evaporation

Matrix Assisted Pulsed Laser Evaporation (MAPLE) was used as an alternative technique within strategies for enzyme immobilization to produce Laccase thin films. In order to characterize Laccase thin films, suitable deposition substrates were used. Laccase layers deposited onto silicon were investigated by Fourier Transform InfraRed Spectroscopy (FTIR) and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) to study molecular structure and surface morphology of Laccase thin films, respectively. Moreover, to estimate the amount of deposited enzyme, Quartz Cristal Microbalance (QCM) electrodes modified with Laccase films were used. Finally, glass and screen printed carbon electrodes were used as deposition substrates to test by colorimetric assay and amperometry the activity of the Laccase deposited. Experimental results have demonstrated that MAPLE enables the Laccase deposition that retains 10% of the initial activity.