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Wang Z, Li D, Shi Y, Sun Y, Okeke SI, Yang L, Zhang W, Zhang Z, Shi Y, Xiao L. Recent Implementations of Hydrogel-Based Microbial Electrochemical Technologies (METs) in Sensing Applications. SENSORS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 23:641. [PMID: 36679438 PMCID: PMC9866333 DOI: 10.3390/s23020641] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Revised: 12/30/2022] [Accepted: 01/03/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Hydrogel materials have been used extensively in microbial electrochemical technology (MET) and sensor development due to their high biocompatibility and low toxicity. With an increasing demand for sensors across different sectors, it is crucial to understand the current state within the sectors of hydrogel METs and sensors. Surprisingly, a systematic review examining the application of hydrogel-based METs to sensor technologies has not yet been conducted. This review aimed to identify the current research progress surrounding the incorporation of hydrogels within METs and sensors development, with a specific focus on microbial fuel cells (MFCs) and microbial electrolysis cells (MECs). The manufacturing process/cost, operational performance, analysis accuracy and stability of typical hydrogel materials in METs and sensors were summarised and analysed. The current challenges facing the technology as well as potential direction for future research were also discussed. This review will substantially promote the understanding of hydrogel materials used in METs and benefit the development of electrochemical biosensors using hydrogel-based METs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zeena Wang
- Department of Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering, Trinity College Dublin, D02 PN40 Dublin, Ireland
| | - Dunzhu Li
- Department of Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering, Trinity College Dublin, D02 PN40 Dublin, Ireland
| | - Yunhong Shi
- Department of Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering, Trinity College Dublin, D02 PN40 Dublin, Ireland
| | - Yifan Sun
- Department of Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering, Trinity College Dublin, D02 PN40 Dublin, Ireland
| | - Saviour I. Okeke
- Department of Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering, Trinity College Dublin, D02 PN40 Dublin, Ireland
| | - Luming Yang
- Department of Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering, Trinity College Dublin, D02 PN40 Dublin, Ireland
| | - Wen Zhang
- Department of Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering, Trinity College Dublin, D02 PN40 Dublin, Ireland
| | - Zihan Zhang
- Department of Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering, Trinity College Dublin, D02 PN40 Dublin, Ireland
| | - Yanqi Shi
- Department of Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering, Trinity College Dublin, D02 PN40 Dublin, Ireland
| | - Liwen Xiao
- Department of Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering, Trinity College Dublin, D02 PN40 Dublin, Ireland
- TrinityHaus, Trinity College Dublin, D02 PN40 Dublin, Ireland
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Umar Mustapha M, Halimoon N, Wan Johari WL, Abd Shukor MY. Enhanced Carbofuran Degradation Using Immobilized and Free Cells of Enterobacter sp. Isolated from Soil. Molecules 2020; 25:molecules25122771. [PMID: 32560037 PMCID: PMC7355768 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25122771] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2020] [Revised: 05/21/2020] [Accepted: 05/21/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Extensive use of carbofuran insecticide harms the environment and human health. Carbofuran is an endocrine disruptor and has the highest acute toxicity to humans than all groups of carbamate pesticides used. Carbofuran is highly mobile in soil and soluble in water with a lengthy half-life (50 days). Therefore, it has the potential to contaminate groundwater and nearby water bodies after rainfall events. A bacterial strain BRC05 was isolated from agricultural soil characterized and presumptively identified as Enterobacter sp. The strain was immobilized using gellan gum as an entrapment material. The effect of different heavy metals and the ability of the immobilized cells to degrade carbofuran were compared with their free cell counterparts. The results showed a significant increase in the degradation of carbofuran by immobilized cells compared with freely suspended cells. Carbofuran was completely degraded within 9 h by immobilized cells at 50 mg/L, while it took 12 h for free cells to degrade carbofuran at the same concentration. Besides, the immobilized cells completely degraded carbofuran within 38 h at 100 mg/L. On the other hand, free cells degraded the compound in 68 h. The viability of the freely suspended cell and degradation efficiency was inhibited at a concentration greater than 100 mg/L. Whereas, the immobilized cells almost completely degraded carbofuran at 100 mg/L. At 250 mg/L concentration, the rate of degradation decreased significantly in free cells. The immobilized cells could also be reused for about nine cycles without losing their degradation activity. Hence, the gellan gum-immobilized cells of Enterobacter sp. could be potentially used in the bioremediation of carbofuran in contaminated soil.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammed Umar Mustapha
- Desert Research Monitoring and Control Centre, Yobe State University, Damaturu P.M.B 1144, Nigeria;
| | - Normala Halimoon
- Department of Environment, Faculty of Forestry and Environment, Universiti Putra Malaysia, UPM Serdang, Selangor 43400, Malaysia;
- Correspondence:
| | - Wan Lutfi Wan Johari
- Department of Environment, Faculty of Forestry and Environment, Universiti Putra Malaysia, UPM Serdang, Selangor 43400, Malaysia;
| | - Mohd. Yunus Abd Shukor
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, UPM Serdang, Selangor 43400, Malaysia;
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Schwab M, Bergonzi C, Sakkos J, Staley C, Zhang Q, Sadowsky MJ, Aksan A, Elias M. Signal Disruption Leads to Changes in Bacterial Community Population. Front Microbiol 2019; 10:611. [PMID: 30984139 PMCID: PMC6449428 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.00611] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2018] [Accepted: 03/11/2019] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The disruption of bacterial signaling (quorum quenching) has been proven to be an innovative approach to influence the behavior of bacteria. In particular, lactonase enzymes that are capable of hydrolyzing the N-acyl homoserine lactone (AHL) molecules used by numerous bacteria, were reported to inhibit biofilm formation, including those of freshwater microbial communities. However, insights and tools are currently lacking to characterize, understand and explain the effects of signal disruption on complex microbial communities. Here, we produced silica capsules containing an engineered lactonase that exhibits quorum quenching activity. Capsules were used to design a filtration cartridge to selectively degrade AHLs from a recirculating bioreactor. The growth of a complex microbial community in the bioreactor, in the presence or absence of lactonase, was monitored over a 3-week period. Dynamic population analysis revealed that signal disruption using a quorum quenching lactonase can effectively reduce biofilm formation in the recirculating bioreactor system and that biofilm inhibition is concomitant to drastic changes in the composition, diversity and abundance of soil bacterial communities within these biofilms. Effects of the quorum quenching lactonase on the suspension community also affected the microbial composition, suggesting that effects of signal disruption are not limited to biofilm populations. This unexpected finding is evidence for the importance of signaling in the competition between bacteria within communities. This study provides foundational tools and data for the investigation of the importance of AHL-based signaling in the context of complex microbial communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Schwab
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biophysics, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, St. Paul, MN, United States.,Biotechnology Institute, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, St. Paul, MN, United States
| | - Celine Bergonzi
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biophysics, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, St. Paul, MN, United States.,Biotechnology Institute, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, St. Paul, MN, United States
| | - Jonathan Sakkos
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, St. Paul, MN, United States
| | - Christopher Staley
- Biotechnology Institute, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, St. Paul, MN, United States.,Department of Surgery, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, St. Paul, MN, United States
| | - Qian Zhang
- Biotechnology Institute, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, St. Paul, MN, United States.,Department of Soil, Water, and Climate, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, St. Paul, MN, United States
| | - Michael J Sadowsky
- Biotechnology Institute, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, St. Paul, MN, United States.,Department of Soil, Water, and Climate, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, St. Paul, MN, United States.,Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, St. Paul, MN, United States
| | - Alptekin Aksan
- Biotechnology Institute, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, St. Paul, MN, United States.,Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, St. Paul, MN, United States
| | - Mikael Elias
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biophysics, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, St. Paul, MN, United States.,Biotechnology Institute, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, St. Paul, MN, United States
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Holzmeister I, Schamel M, Groll J, Gbureck U, Vorndran E. Artificial inorganic biohybrids: The functional combination of microorganisms and cells with inorganic materials. Acta Biomater 2018; 74:17-35. [PMID: 29698705 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2018.04.042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2018] [Revised: 03/12/2018] [Accepted: 04/22/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Biohybrids can be defined as the functional combination of proteins, viable cells or microorganisms with non-biological materials. This article reviews recent findings on the encapsulation of microorganisms and eukaryotic cells in inorganic matrices such as silica gels or cements. The entrapment of biological entities into a support material is of great benefit for processing since the encapsulation matrix protects sensitive cells from shear forces, unfavourable pH changes, or cytotoxic solvents, avoids culture-washout, and simplifies the separation of formed products. After reflecting general aspects of such an immobilization as well as the chemistry of the inorganic matrices, we focused on manufacturing aspects and the application of such biohybrids in biotechnology, medicine as well as in environmental science and for civil engineering purpose. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE The encapsulation of living cells and microorganisms became an intensively studied and rapidly expanding research field with manifold applications in medicine, bio- and environmental technology, or civil engineering. Here, the use of silica or cements as encapsulation matrices have the advantage of a higher chemical and mechanical resistance towards harsh environmental conditions during processing compared to their polymeric counterparts. In this perspective, the article gives an overview about the inorganic material systems used for cell encapsulation, followed by reviewing the most important applications. The future may lay in a combination of the currently achieved biohybrid systems with additive manufacturing techniques. In a longer perspective, this would enable the direct printing of cell loaded bioreactor components.
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Sakkos JK, Mutlu BR, Wackett LP, Aksan A. Adsorption and Biodegradation of Aromatic Chemicals by Bacteria Encapsulated in a Hydrophobic Silica Gel. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2017; 9:26848-26858. [PMID: 28719174 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.7b06791] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
An adsorbent silica biogel material was developed via silica gel encapsulation of Pseudomonas sp. NCIB 9816-4, a bacterium that degrades a broad spectrum of aromatic pollutants. The adsorbent matrix was synthesized using silica precursors methyltrimethoxysilane and tetramethoxysilane to maximize the adsorption capacity of the matrix while maintaining a highly networked and porous microstructure. The encapsulated bacteria enhanced the removal rate and capacity of the matrix for an aromatic chemical mixture. Repeated use of the material over four cycles was conducted to demonstrate that the removal capacity could be maintained with combined adsorption and biodegradation. The silica biogel can thus be used extensively without the need for disposal, as a result of continuous biodegradation by the encapsulated bacteria. However, an inverse trend was observed with the ratio of biodegradation to adsorption as a function of log Kow, suggesting increasing mass-transport limitation for the most hydrophobic chemicals used (log Kow > 4).
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Lawrence P Wackett
- The BioTechnology Institute, University of Minnesota , St. Paul, Minnesota 55108, United States
| | - Alptekin Aksan
- The BioTechnology Institute, University of Minnesota , St. Paul, Minnesota 55108, United States
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Lopes AR, Sousa VM, Estevinho BN, Leite JP, Moreira NFF, Gales L, Rocha F, Nunes OC. Production of microparticles of molinate degrading biocatalysts using the spray drying technique. CHEMOSPHERE 2016; 161:61-68. [PMID: 27421102 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2016.07.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2016] [Revised: 06/16/2016] [Accepted: 07/02/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Previous studies demonstrated the capability of mixed culture DC1 to mineralize the thiocarbamate herbicide molinate through the activity of molinate hydrolase (MolA). Because liquid suspensions are not compatible with long-term storage and are not easy to handle when bioremediation strategies are envisaged, in this study spray drying was evaluated as a cost-effective method to store and transport these molinate biocatalysts. Microparticles of mixed culture DC1 (DC1) and of cell free crude extracts containing MolA (MA) were obtained without any carrier polymer, and with calcium alginate (CA) or modified chitosan (MCt) as immobilizing agents. All the DC1 microparticles showed high molinate degrading activity upon storage for 6 months, or after 9 additions of ∼0.4 mM molinate over 1 month. The DC1-MCt microparticles were those with the highest survival rate and lowest heterogeneity. For MA microparticles, only MA-MCt degraded molinate. However, its Vmax was only 1.4% of that of the fresh cell free extract (non spray dried). The feasibility of using the DC1-MCt and MA-MCt microparticles in bioaugmentation processes was assessed in river water microcosms, using mass (g):volume (L) ratios of 1:13 and 1:0.25, respectively. Both type of microparticles removed ∼65-75% of the initial 1.5 mg L(-1) molinate, after 7 days of incubation. However, only DC1-MCt microparticles were able to degrade this environmental concentration of molinate without disturbing the native bacterial community. These results suggest that spray drying can be successfully used to produce DC1-MCt microparticles to remediate molinate polluted sites through a bioaugmentation strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana R Lopes
- LEPABE, Laboratório de Engenharia de Processos, Ambiente, Biotecnologia e Energia, Faculdade de Engenharia, Universidade do Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal
| | - Vera M Sousa
- LEPABE, Laboratório de Engenharia de Processos, Ambiente, Biotecnologia e Energia, Faculdade de Engenharia, Universidade do Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal
| | - Berta N Estevinho
- LEPABE, Laboratório de Engenharia de Processos, Ambiente, Biotecnologia e Energia, Faculdade de Engenharia, Universidade do Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal
| | - José P Leite
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Portugal; IBMC, Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular da Universidade do Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre, 823, 4150-180 Porto, Portugal
| | - Nuno F F Moreira
- LEPABE, Laboratório de Engenharia de Processos, Ambiente, Biotecnologia e Energia, Faculdade de Engenharia, Universidade do Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal
| | - Luís Gales
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Portugal; IBMC, Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular da Universidade do Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre, 823, 4150-180 Porto, Portugal; ICBAS - Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira n.º 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
| | - Fernando Rocha
- LEPABE, Laboratório de Engenharia de Processos, Ambiente, Biotecnologia e Energia, Faculdade de Engenharia, Universidade do Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal
| | - Olga C Nunes
- LEPABE, Laboratório de Engenharia de Processos, Ambiente, Biotecnologia e Energia, Faculdade de Engenharia, Universidade do Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal.
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Mutlu BR, Sakkos JK, Yeom S, Wackett LP, Aksan A. Silica ecosystem for synergistic biotransformation. Sci Rep 2016; 6:27404. [PMID: 27264916 PMCID: PMC4893658 DOI: 10.1038/srep27404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2016] [Accepted: 05/18/2016] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Synergistical bacterial species can perform more varied and complex transformations of chemical substances than either species alone, but this is rarely used commercially because of technical difficulties in maintaining mixed cultures. Typical problems with mixed cultures on scale are unrestrained growth of one bacterium, which leads to suboptimal population ratios, and lack of control over bacterial spatial distribution, which leads to inefficient substrate transport. To address these issues, we designed and produced a synthetic ecosystem by co-encapsulation in a silica gel matrix, which enabled precise control of the microbial populations and their microenvironment. As a case study, two greatly different microorganisms: Pseudomonas sp. NCIB 9816 and Synechococcus elongatus PCC 7942 were encapsulated. NCIB 9816 can aerobically biotransform over 100 aromatic hydrocarbons, a feat useful for synthesis of higher value commodity chemicals or environmental remediation. In our system, NCIB 9816 was used for biotransformation of naphthalene (a model substrate) into CO2 and the cyanobacterium PCC 7942 was used to provide the necessary oxygen for the biotransformation reactions via photosynthesis. A mathematical model was constructed to determine the critical cell density parameter to maximize oxygen production, and was then used to maximize the biotransformation rate of the system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Baris R Mutlu
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Jonathan K Sakkos
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Sujin Yeom
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biophysics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Lawrence P Wackett
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biophysics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA.,BioTechnology Institute, University of Minnesota, St Paul, MN 55108, USA
| | - Alptekin Aksan
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA.,BioTechnology Institute, University of Minnesota, St Paul, MN 55108, USA
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