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Microalgae biomass generation in hydrogel matrices
Growth of microorganisms in encapsulated matrices introduces new alternatives to produce biomass and biochemical by-products and may provide a way to overcome the current limits of fermentation-based biomass production.
Keywords: Microalgae
Biofabrication
Living materials
Engineering of living materials is an emerging area of research where cells are embedded into otherwise static materials in order to impart biological functionality such as reproduction, self-repair, and dynamic responsivity [1]. Successful design of encapsulated living systems requires interdisciplinary engineering expertise. This project builds upon current research on encapsulated microorganisms in order to propose alternative routes to traditional bioprocess and materials design [2].
Aqueous suspension is the gold standard for industrial biomass production, however it is not ideal for all species, such as aeroterrestrial algae found in a non-aqueous environment. Growth of microorganisms in encapsulated matrices introduces new alternatives to produce biomass and biochemical by-products and may provide a way to overcome the current limits of fermentation-based biomass production.
Engineering of living materials is an emerging area of research where cells are embedded into otherwise static materials in order to impart biological functionality such as reproduction, self-repair, and dynamic responsivity [1]. Successful design of encapsulated living systems requires interdisciplinary engineering expertise. This project builds upon current research on encapsulated microorganisms in order to propose alternative routes to traditional bioprocess and materials design [2].
Aqueous suspension is the gold standard for industrial biomass production, however it is not ideal for all species, such as aeroterrestrial algae found in a non-aqueous environment. Growth of microorganisms in encapsulated matrices introduces new alternatives to produce biomass and biochemical by-products and may provide a way to overcome the current limits of fermentation-based biomass production.
The main goal of this project is to develop biomass quantification methods in 3D hydrogel environment.
The project would be comprised of several tasks:
• Design of hydrogel matrices that meet the requirements for algae growth;
• Development of biomass quantification protocols to estimate biomass generation yields;
• Generation of 3D hydrogel structures to maximize the biomass outcome;
• Study of growth phenomena at hydrogel interfaces.
Ste student would have an opportunity to work on an interdisciplinary project and learn experimental planning, microalgae cultivation, soft material characterisation, biofabrication, and optical microscopy techniques.
[1] Manjula-Basavanna et al. Robust Self-Regeneratable Stiff Living Materials Fabricated from Microbial Cells. Adv. Funct. Mater. 2021, 31, 2010784.
[2] Butelmann et al. Metabolism Control in 3D-Printed Living Materials Improves Fermentation. ACS Appl. Bio Mater. 2021, 4, 9, 7195–7203.
The main goal of this project is to develop biomass quantification methods in 3D hydrogel environment.
The project would be comprised of several tasks:
• Design of hydrogel matrices that meet the requirements for algae growth;
• Development of biomass quantification protocols to estimate biomass generation yields;
• Generation of 3D hydrogel structures to maximize the biomass outcome;
• Study of growth phenomena at hydrogel interfaces.
Ste student would have an opportunity to work on an interdisciplinary project and learn experimental planning, microalgae cultivation, soft material characterisation, biofabrication, and optical microscopy techniques.
[1] Manjula-Basavanna et al. Robust Self-Regeneratable Stiff Living Materials Fabricated from Microbial Cells. Adv. Funct. Mater. 2021, 31, 2010784.
[2] Butelmann et al. Metabolism Control in 3D-Printed Living Materials Improves Fermentation. ACS Appl. Bio Mater. 2021, 4, 9, 7195–7203.
- Dalia Dranseikiene: ddranseik@ethz.ch,
- Prof. John Oakey: joakey@ethz.ch,
- Prof. Mark Tibbitt: mtibbitt@ethz.ch.
- Dalia Dranseikiene: ddranseik@ethz.ch, - Prof. John Oakey: joakey@ethz.ch, - Prof. Mark Tibbitt: mtibbitt@ethz.ch.