title: Encapsulation of Pseudomonas sp. ADP cells in electrospun microtubes for atrazine bioremediation.
abstract: Electrospun hollow polymeric microfibers (microtubes) were evaluated as an encapsulation method for the atrazine degrading bacterium Pseudomonas sp. ADP. Pseudomonas sp. ADP cells were successfully incorporated in a formulation containing a core solution of polyethylene oxide dissolved in water and spun with an outer shell solution made of polycaprolactone and polyethylene glycol dissolved in a chloroform and dimethylformamide. The resulting microtubes, collected as mats, were partially collapsed with a ribbon-like structure. Following encapsulation, the atrazine degradation rate was low (0.03 ± 0.01 mg atrazine/h/g fiber) indicating that the electrospinning process negatively affected cell activity. Atrazine degradation was restored to 0.5 ± 0.1 mg atrazine/h/g fiber by subjecting the microtubes to a period of growth. After 3 and 7 days growth periods, encapsulated cells were able to remove 20.6 ± 3 and 47.6 ± 5.9 mg atrazine/g mat, respectively, in successive batches under non-growth conditions (with no additional electron donor) until atrazine was detected in the medium. The loss of atrazine degrading capacity was regained following an additional cell-growth period.
authors: Israel Institute of Technology, 32000 Haifa, Israel. shirikl@wildblue.net
authors: Shiri
authors: S
authors: Klein
authors: Ron
authors: R
authors: Avrahami
authors: Eyal
authors: E
authors: Zussman
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Beliavski
authors: Sheldon
authors: S
authors: Tarre
authors: Michal
authors: M
authors: Green
mesh_terms: D001280:Atrazine / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000378:metabolism*; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D050296:Microbial Viability; D011549:Pseudomonas / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure
chemical_list: D001280:Atrazine