Bacterial polymers as materials for the development of micro/nanoparticles

Insights into the heterogeneity of levan polymers synthesized by levansucrase Bs-SacB from Bacillus subtilis 168

Levan is an enzymatically synthesized fructose polymer with widely reported structural heterogeneity depending on the producing levansucrase, the reaction conditions employed for its synthesis and the characterization techniques. We studied here the specific properties of levan produced by recombinant levansucrase from B. subtilis 168 (Bs-SacB), often characterized as a bimodal distribution, that is, a mixture of low and high molecular weight levan. We found significant differences between both levans in terms of the already reported molecular weight, size and morphology using different analytical methods. The low molecular weight levan consists of a non-uniform polymer ranging from 50 to 230 kDa, synthesized through a non-processive mechanism that can spontaneously form spherical nanoparticles in the reaction medium. In contrast, high molecular weight levan is a uniform polymer, most probably synthesized through a processive mechanism, with an average molecular weight of 30,750 kDa and a poorly defined nano-structure. This is the first report exploring differences in morphology between low and high molecular weight levans. Our findings demonstrate that only the low molecular weight levan forms spherical nanoparticles in the reaction medium and that high molecular weight levan is mainly composed of a 33,000 kDa fraction with a microgel behavior.

Chemotactic response of Escherichia coli to polymer solutions

Polymers are important components of the complex fluid environment for microorganisms. The mechanical effects on bacterial motile behavior due to the viscous or viscoelastic properties of polymers were extensively studied, whereas possible chemical effects on bacterial motility through bacterial chemoreception of the polymers were unclear. Here we studied the chemotactic response of Escherichia coli to polymeric solutions by combining the bead assay and FRET measurements. We found that the wild-type E. coli strain exhibited an attractant response to widely used polymers such as Ficoll 400, PEG 20000 and PVP 360000, and the response amplitude from chemoreception was much larger than that from the load-dependence of motor switching due to viscosity change. The chemotactic response depended on the type of receptors and the chain length of the polymers. Our findings here provided novel ingredients for further studies of bacterial motile behavior in complex fluids.

Implementation of Combinatorial Genetic and Microenvironmental Engineering to Microbial-Based Field-Deployable Microbead Biosensors for Highly Sensitive and Remote Chemical Detection

Bioreporters, microbial species genetically engineered to provide measurable signals in response to specific chemicals, have been widely investigated as sensors for biomedical and environmental monitoring. More specifically, the bioreporter encapsulated within a biocompatible material, such as a hydrogel that can provide a suitable microenvironment for its prolonged activity as well as efficient scalable production, has been viewed as a more broadly applicable mode of biosensors. In this study, alginate-based microbeads encapsulated with the bacterial bioreporter capable of expressing green fluorescence protein in response to nitro compounds (e.g., trinitrotoluene and dinitrotoluene) are developed as biosensors. To significantly enhance the sensitivity of the microbial-based microbead biosensors, "multifaceted" modification strategies are simultaneously employed: (1) multiple genetic modifications of the bioreporter, (2) tuning the physicomechanical properties of the encapsulating microbeads, (3) controlling the initial cell density within the microbeads, and (4) enrichment of nitro compounds inside microbeads via functional nanomaterials. These microbial and microenvironmental engineering approaches combine to significantly enhance the sensing capability, even allowing highly sensitive remote detection under a low-vapor phase. Thus, the strategy developed herein is expected to contribute to various cell-based biosensors.

Antifungal activity of P3HB microparticles containing tebuconazole

In this study, tebuconazole (TEB)-loaded poly-3-hydroxybutyrate (P3HB)-based microparticles were developed and comprehensively characterized. TEB-loaded microparticles with the initial loading amounts of the fungicide of 10, 25, and 50% of the polymer mass (TEB 10, TEB 25, and TEB 50%) were prepared using emulsion technique. Encapsulation efficiency of TEB varied from 59 to 86%. As the loading amount was increased, the average diameter of microparticles increased too, from 41.3 to 71.7 µm, while zeta potential was not influenced by TEB loading, varying between -32.6 and -35.7 mV. TEB was gradually released from the microparticles to the model medium, and after 60 d, from 25 to 43% of TEB was released depending on the content of the encapsulated fungicide. The data obtained from in vitro TEB release were fitted to different mathematical models. It was shown that the release profiles of TEB could be best explained by the Zero-order, Higuchi, and Hixson-Crowell models. The antifungal activity of the P3HB/TEB microparticles against phytopathogenic fungi Fusarium moniliforme and Fusarium solani was demonstrated by in vitro tests conducted in Petri dishes. Thus, hydrophobic agrochemicals (TEB) can be effectively encapsulated into P3HB microparticles to construct slow-release formulations.

Bacterial components as naturally inspired nano-carriers for drug/gene delivery and immunization: Set the bugs to work?

Drug delivery is a rapidly growing area of research motivated by the nanotechnology revolution, the ideal of personalized medicine, and the desire to reduce the side effects of toxic anti-cancer drugs. Amongst a bewildering array of different nanostructures and nanocarriers, those examples that are fundamentally bio-inspired and derived from natural sources are particularly preferred. Delivery of vaccines is also an active area of research in this field. Bacterial cells and their components that have been used for drug delivery, include the crystalline cell-surface layer known as "S-layer", bacterial ghosts, bacterial outer membrane vesicles, and bacterial products or derivatives (e.g. spores, polymers, and magnetic nanoparticles). Considering the origin of these components from potentially pathogenic microorganisms, it is not surprising that they have been applied for vaccines and immunization. The present review critically summarizes their applications focusing on their advantages for delivery of drugs, genes, and vaccines.

Free-standing three-dimensional hollow bacterial cellulose structures with controlled geometry via patterned superhydrophobic-hydrophilic surfaces

Bacteria can produce cellulose, one of the most abundant biopolymer on earth, and emerge as an interesting candidate to fabricate advanced materials. Cellulose produced by Komagataeibacter Xylinus, a bacterial strain, is a pure water insoluble biopolymer, without hemicellulose or lignin. Bacterial cellulose (BC) exhibits a nanofibrous porous network microstructure with high strength, low density and high biocompatibility and it has been proposed as cell scaffold and wound healing material. The formation of three dimensional (3D) cellulose self-standing structures is not simple. It either involves complex multi-step synthetic procedures or uses chemical methods to dissolve cellulose and remold it. Here we present an in situ single-step method to produce self-standing 3D-BC structures with controllable wall thickness, size and geometry in a reproducible manner. Parameters such as hydrophobicity of the surfaces, volume of the inoculum and time of culture define the resulting 3D-BC structures. Hollow spheres and convex domes can be easily obtained by changing the surface wettability. The potential of these structures as a 3D cell scaffold is exemplified supporting the growth of mouse embryonic stem cells within a hollow spherical BC structure, indicating its biocompatibility and future prospective.

Using a bacterial fucose-rich polysaccharide as encapsulation material of bioactive compounds

The potential of a bacterial exopolysaccharide named FucoPol, produced by the bacterium Enterobacter A47, as encapsulation matrix was explored. Spherical capsules with a smooth surface were produced by spray drying. The obtained microcapsules had average diameters ranging from 0.5 to 26.7μm and presented thin walls (thickness from 222 to 1094nm). The capsules were loaded with two bioactive compounds: gallic acid (GA) and oregano essential oil (OEO). Both bioactive materials were encapsulated in FucoPol particles, retaining their antioxidant activity after the drying process. Release studies showed that GA release in simulated gastric and intestinal fluids was faster than that of OEO, envisaging that the latter had established stronger interactions with the polymer matrix. These results suggest that FucoPol has a good potential for use as encapsulating material of bioactive compounds for application in several areas, including food, cosmetic or pharmaceutical products.