P(3HB)-producing Burkholderia sp. MA18: production and characterization.

• Grant number: 25/21810-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: December 01, 2025
• End date: November 30, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Microbiology - Applied Microbiology
• Principal Investigator: Jonas Contiero
• Grantee: Pedro Henrique Araujo Leal
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IB). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Rio Claro. Rio Claro , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Petrochemical plastics have become indispensable in modern society; however, their extensive use has caused serious environmental impacts and risks to human health. Alternatively, polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), biopolymers of microbial origin, stand out for being renewable, biodegradable, and biocompatible, and for exhibiting thermal and mechanical properties that can be adjusted according to their application. This product is of great medical interest and can be used in implants and pharmaceuticals, as well as scaffolds in tissue engineering. Despite these advantages, the production cost of PHAs remains high compared to conventional plastics. Therefore, several studies have sought alternative and more accessible sources, as well as strategies to optimize their production and expand their applications. Thus, this work aims to optimize P(3HB) production by the Burkholderia sp MA18 strain in a bioreactor through experimental design, in addition to physicochemically characterizing the films obtained, contributing to future high-value-added applications.