Enzyme-Integrated Polyacrylonitrile/Graphene Nanoplatelet Antibacterial Nanofiber Air Filter for Indoor Bioaerosol Removal

Abstract

Abstract The recent COVID-19 pandemic has amplified concerns about indoor air quality, emphasizing the need for effective air filtration solutions to address airborne bacteria or bioaerosols that pose substantial health risks in indoor environments. This study presents a novel antibacterial nanofiber filter fabricated by integrating the glucose oxidase (GOx) enzyme into polyacrylonitrile/graphene nanoplatelet (PAN/GNP) electrospun nanofibers. The developed filters exhibited a uniform nanofiber morphology, with average fiber diameters ranging from 240 to 377 nm. The GOx-immobilization significantly enhances biocidal activity of GOx@PAN/GNP against aerosolized bacteria, achieving a remarkable 6.76-log reduction with an efficiency of nearly 100%, compared to bare PAN and PAN/GNP composite nanofiber filters. The synergistic effect of GNP and immobilized GOx enhances antibacterial properties and improves bioaerosol removal capability of the filter. These findings highlight the potential of immobilizing GOx on electrospun nanofibers for developing highly effective indoor air filters to combat indoor bioaerosol threats. Graphical Abstract