Investigation of bacterial cells behavior in alginate microparticles encapsulated by droplet-based microfluidics technique

• Grant number: 16/13167-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate
• Start date: November 01, 2016
• End date: April 30, 2017
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Chemical Engineering
• Principal Investigator: Lucimara Gaziola de la Torre
• Grantee: Aline Furtado Oliveira
• Supervisor: David A. Weitz
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Engenharia Química (FEQ). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Harvard University, Cambridge, United States
• Associated to the scholarship: 14/26814-7 - Encapsulation of microbial cells in microfluidic system aiming at development of biotechnological processes, BP.DR

Abstract

Encapsulation processes are important to improve productivity of bioprocess reactions and protect microbial cells against cross contamination in adverse situations. However, particles produced by conventional techniques have high polydispersity index and size that can interfere on cellular development and affect the biochemical response. Droplet-based microfluidics can be an alternative to generate particles in micrometric scale and narrow distribution size, since encapsulating and gelation steps occur inside of microchannels. Therefore, the size of these microparticles allows the use of different techniques to detect and observe the cells behavior inside of these particles and this can contribute for bioprocesses development. It this way, the aim of this project is the production of alginate microparticles by droplet-based microfluidics and evaluate the dynamic of microbial cells inside of this microenvironment. For this, it will be encapsulated Bacillus subtilis in calcium alginate microparticles and it will be monitored the dynamic of microbial cells by using microscopy techniques. Thus, in this study will be fundamental to acquire new techniques involving microscopy and fluoresce to monitor cells in different ways and it will allows understanding the interaction of cells with microenvironment. This project will be developed in collaboration with the Experimental Soft Condensed Matter Group from Harvard University in USA, where it will be possible learn recent microscopy and fluorescence techniques for cells investigations inside droplet microfluidics. This research group is coordinated by Professor David A. Weitz, which has expertise in microfluidics in several biological applications, including the evaluation of cells behavior inside droplets. This project hopes to contribute in encapsulation processes and in studies of dynamics of cells in this microenvironment through knowledge of microscopy and fluorescence techniques applied in droplets microfluidic. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

OLIVEIRA, ALINE F.; BASTOS, REINALDO G.; DE LA TORRE, LUCIMARA G.. Bacillus subtilis immobilization in alginate microfluidic-based microparticles aiming to improve lipase productivity. Biochemical Engineering Journal, v. 143, p. 110-120, MAR 15 2019. (16/13167-9, 14/26814-7, 15/26701-0)