Cutinase - A new tool for biomodification of synthetic fibers

The use of Fusarium solani pisi cutinase to modify the surface of textile synthetic fibers was investigated. It was found that the cultinase hydrolysis of acrylics yielded acetic acid, leaving vinyl alcohol at the fiber surface. It was also found that most of the outer amino acid residues closed to the active site were hydrophibic, and enhanced the better enzyme-fiber interactions. The results show that the cultinase has a higher activity onpolyamide than on polyester but the reverse can also be seen on th formation of end groups at the fiber surface.