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A new approach to improve natural dye fixation on textile fabrics using Trichoderma viride lac418 laccase enzyme: production, characterization and molecular docking studies

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Natural dyes like flavonoids are used for many applications because they are eco-friendly and non-toxic. However, they have no affinity to fibers and need a mordant to enhance this affinity. Mordants (dye fixatives) are environmental hazards, as they are toxic and carcinogenic, so it is important to identify alternative methods for textile dyeing with natural dyes. Laccase enzyme is capable of oxidizing natural dyes that contain phenolic hydroxyl groups. This process is followed by polymerization, which leads to the formation of a colored compound on the textile surface. Therefore, it can be utilized as an alternative to conventional mordants. In the current study, the most potent laccase producer was a fungus isolated from rotten wood. It was identified and submitted to the NCBI GenBank database as Trichoderma viride lac418 under accession number PV594963. The partially purified Trichoderma viride lac418 laccase has maximum activity at a temperature of 60 °C and pH 5.0. The activation energy ( Ea ) was 7.7 kJ/mol. The values of Km and Vmax were calculated as 1.7 mg/mL and 102041 U/mL, respectively. Trichoderma viride lac418 laccase has enhanced the affinity of cotton and viscose fabrics to the water-extracted dye obtained from Hibiscus sabdariffa flowers. Excellent color strength and color fastness properties were observed with viscose fabric and 2:1 dye-enzyme ratio. The molecular docking studies revealed that rutin and rosmarinic acid exhibited the strongest binding affinity to laccase enzyme, which confirms the potential role of laccase in the fixation of the water-extracted dye from Hibiscus sabdariffa flowers. Therefore, Trichoderma viride lac418 laccase is recommended as an eco-friendly substitute for the hazardous mordants in textile dyeing and printing.

Source: Scientific Reports

DOI: 10.1038/s41598-026-70920-9

Authors: Hala R. Wehaidy, Rasha G. Salim, Ghada M. El-Sayed, Mona M. Ibrahim, Heba M. El-Hennawi

Institution: National Research Centre

Language: English

Topic: Dyeing and Modifying Textile Fibers

Subfield: Polymers and Plastics

Field: Materials Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,690

Funders: National Research Centre, Science and Technology Development Fund