HPLC-F-MS

This project develops a new, fast method to evaluate and improve enzymes that break down plastics, with a focus on microplastics made of polyester and polycarbonate. The researchers will combine high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with fluorescence mass spectrometry (F-MS) and use plastics that have been labeled with fluorescent dyes. When enzymes act on these dye-labeled plastics, they cut them into smaller fluorescent fragments that can be separated and detected even in very complex mixtures. By precisely identifying and quantifying the monomers and oligomers formed during enzymatic degradation, the method will make it possible to rapidly screen many enzyme variants and accurately compare how well they perform. The resulting insights into which enzymes work best, and how they cut specific chemical bonds, will guide the engineering of new, more efficient plastic-degrading enzymes. In the longer term, this approach aims to support the development of biotechnological solutions that can help reduce the environmental burden of persistent plastic pollution.