Inkjet Printing of Horseradish Peroxidase on Paper, 2007 Coating & Graphic Arts Conference

ABSTRACT ONLY

In recent years ink jet technology has been increasingly used to dispense, deposit or pattern picoliter volumes of biomaterials onto solid supports with high placement accuracy, noncontact operation and controlled uniformity. Some researchers have demonstrated the feasibility of jetting enzymes using drop-on-demand ink jet printers but there are challenges that still need to be addressed. Ink formulation, jetting conditions, and solid supports can significantly affect the biological activity of the enzymes making more costly or eventually useless end products. The aim of this study is to systematically study the performance of paper as enzyme immobilization support and the efficacy of using ink jet printing technology for developing bioactive papers. In this investigation a biological ink containing horseradish peroxidase as the main active component was deposited and physically immobilized on paper supports using a piezo-based drop-on-demand ink jet printer. Enzyme activity in solution, after printing, and after immobilization was tested colorimetrically using 2, 2’-azino-di-(3- ethylbenzthiazoline) 6-sulphonate (ABTS) as chromogen. The impact of bioink formulation, deposition parameters and support properties on the enzyme functionality were evaluated.