title: Rheology, oxygen transfer, and molecular weight characteristics of poly(glutamic acid) fermentation by Bacillus subtilis.
abstract: Poly(glutamic acid) (PGA) is a water-soluble, biodegradable biopolymer that is produced by microbial fermentation. Recent research has shown that PGA can be used in drug delivery applications for the controlled release of paclitaxel (Taxol) in cancer treatment. A fundamental understanding of the key fermentation parameters is necessary to optimize the production and molecular weight characteristics of poly(glutamic acid) by Bacillus subtilis for paclitaxel and other applications of pharmaceuticals for controlled release. Because of its high molecular weight, PGA fermentation broths exhibit non-Newtonian rheology. In this article we present experimental results on the batch fermentation kinetics of PGA production, mass transfer of oxygen, specific oxygen uptake rate, broth rheology, and molecular weight characterization of the PGA biopolymer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada, N6A 5B9.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Richard
authors.forename: Argyrios
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Margaritis
mesh_terms: D001412:Bacillus subtilis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000145:classification / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism*; D019149:Bioreactors / Q000382:microbiology; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods; D008970:Molecular Weight; D010100:Oxygen / Q000378:metabolism*; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000502:physiology; D011099:Polyglutamic Acid / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000737:chemistry*; D012212:Rheology / Q000379:methods*; D013045:Species Specificity; D014783:Viscosity
chemical_list: D011099:Polyglutamic Acid; D010100:Oxygen