Laccase-TEMPO treatments provided carbonyl and carboxyl groups on dissolving pulp. Laccase-TEMPO treatment conducted in presence of oxygen developed wet strength. A pre-refining step led to hemiacetal covalent linkages and improved wet strength. Higher wet-zero span strength correlated highly with presence of hemiacetal linkages. Laccase-TEMPO caused degradation but hemiacetal linkages hindered Fock solubility.