Protease Coating for Enzymatic Removal of Insect Body Stains

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing self-cleaning coatings are ineffective in removing biological stains, particularly from insect sources, due to their limitations in handling organic materials and compatibility issues with polymer coatings, leading to maintenance challenges on various surfaces.

Innovation Solution

A bioactive coating containing a thermolysin-like protease, such as the active extracellular fragment of Geobacillus stearothermophilus TLP, is used to enzymatically degrade biological stain components, facilitating their removal through gentle rinsing with water or other fluids.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If traditional self-cleaning coatings based on water rolling or sheeting are used, then inorganic dirt removal is effective, but biological stain removal is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestain removal effectivenessVSAvoidcleaning capability across different stain types

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces proteolytic enzymes that change the chemical mechanism from physical water rolling to enzymatic degradation, enabling effective breakdown of protein-based biological stains while maintaining inorganic dirt removal capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The coating combines traditional hydrophobic/oleophobic nanocomposite materials with proteolytic enzymes to create a composite system that provides both passive stain resistance and active biological stain degradation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Productivity

If photocatalytic coatings with TiO2 are used, then organic stain decomposition is promoted, but polymer coating oxidation occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveorganic stain decompositionVSAvoidpolymer coating oxidation

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses proteolytic enzymes as a selective intermediary that specifically targets protein-based stains without affecting the polymer coating, avoiding the non-selective oxidation problem of TiO2 photocatalysts

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the harmful oxidation effect into a beneficial selective degradation by using enzyme specificity to target only the stain components while leaving the coating intact

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Ease of operation

If lotus-effect coatings with surface roughness are used, then water and oil contact angles are very high, but high gloss surface application is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewater and oil roll-off propertiesVSAvoidsurface roughness

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the physical lotus-effect mechanism with the chemical enzymatic degradation mechanism, allowing the coating to function on both rough and smooth surfaces by providing dual-mode stain removal capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The protease-based coating effectively breaks down and removes insect stains from surfaces, outperforming traditional coatings and enzymes, with improved stability and activity at high pH levels, reducing maintenance requirements and enhancing self-cleaning performance.

Implementation Method 1

a protease is capable of enzymatically degrading a component of a biological stain

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectEnzymatic degradation: Enzyme

Implementation Method 2

thermolysin-like protease... capable of enzymatically degrading a component of a biological stain

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectProteolysis: Hydrolysis

Data Source

PatentUS9388370B2Thermolysin-like protease for cleaning insect body stains

Publication Date: 2016.07.12 TOYOTA MOTOR CO LTD

AI summary

A substrate or coating is provided that includes a protease with enzymatic activity toward a component of a biological stain. Also provided is a process for facilitating the removal of a biological stain is provided wherein an inventive substrate or coating including a protease is capable of enzymatically degrading of one or more components of the biological stain to facilitate biological stain removal from the substrate or said coating.