1School of Bioscience, Faculty of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, MAHSA University, Bandar Saujana Putra, 42610, Jenjarom, Selangor, Malaysia
2Centre for Foundation Studies in Science, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
*Corresponding author: Nurul Nadiah Abd Razak, Centre for Foundation Studies in Science, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Email: nurulnadiah.abdrazak@um.edu.my
Background: The persistence of pharmaceuticals like amoxicillin in the environment poses risks to human health, wildlife, and the food supply. Traditional disposal methods are often inadequate, highlighting the need for sustainable solutions.
Aim: This research evaluates the effectiveness of laccase enzymes in degrading amoxicillin and identifies optimal conditions to enhance this process.
Method: Using a Box-Behnken Design (BBD), the study examines how varying pH, temperature, and amoxicillin concentration affect laccase-mediated degradation of amoxicillin.
Results: The study highlighted temperature as the most influential factor, while the effects of pH and substrate concentration were found to be insignificant. The synergistic effect of temperature and pH was determined to be the most significant interaction factor. ANOVA and Pareto analysis confirm that temperature is crucial and having the greatest effect. The highest enzymatic degradation of amoxicillin was achieved at 67%. The BBD identifies the most effective degradation conditions achieved at pH 5, 50°C, and 0.007 mg mL⁻¹ amoxicillin. At 50°C, the obtained Vmax value was calculated at 0.381 mg mL⁻¹ h⁻¹ while the Km value was 0.951 mg mL⁻¹.
Conclusion: By determining optimal degradation conditions and evaluating enzyme efficiency, the research aimed to contribute to sustainable strategies for pharmaceutical removal. This work highlights the potential of laccase enzymes in degrading pharmaceutical contaminants, promoting more sustainable practices in environmental management.
Keywords: RSM, drug degradation, amoxicillin, laccase, fungi, enzyme
How to cite this article: Diba RS, Zain DKM, Zia UNTN, Razak NNA. Response Surface Methodology for Optimizing Laccase-Mediated Drug Degradation. Int J Drug Deliv Technol. 2026;16(12s): 594-615. DOI: 10.25258/ijddt.16.12s.72
Source of support: Nil.
Conflict of interest: None