Fabrication of 3D frameworks for bacterial film growth

• Grant number: 19/26147-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: February 01, 2020
• End date: December 31, 2020
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Physics - Condensed Matter Physics
• Principal Investigator: Cleber Renato Mendonça
• Grantee: Jonathas Queiroz Ribeiro Moraes
• Host Institution: Instituto de Física de São Carlos (IFSC). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Carlos , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 18/11283-7 - Nonlinear photonics: spectroscopy and advanced processing of materials, AP.TEM

Abstract

Probiotics are microorganisms that bring benefits to their host and may have immunologic effects by stimulating the increase of beneficial bacteria of the gastrointestinal microbiota. Studies have shown the ways to lessen symptoms of various medical conditions, such as Alzheimer's disease, tooth decay, diabetes, and others. Therefore, it is interesting to determine fundamental aspects about the formation of biological films of Lactobacillus sp., a genus of bacteria largely utilized in commercial applications, in order to create more efficient delivery mechanisms. This project aims to fabricate biocompatible tridimensional platforms using the two photons polymerization (2PP) technique, a nonlinear optics process. Thus, we can create microstructures in acrylic resins via ultra-short laser pulses and study the biocompatibility of such frameworks with the desired biofilm for the future development of new techniques. (AU)