title: Living Composites of Bacteria and Polymers as Biomimetic Films for Metal Sequestration and Bioremediation.
abstract: Herein, we report on composite materials of biologically active microorganisms placed in a synthetic polymer matrix. These so-called "living composites" were utilized for gold sequestration (Micrococcus luteus) and bioremediation of nitrite (Nitrobacter winogradskyi) to demonstrate functionality. For the preparation of the living composites the bacteria were first encased in a water-soluble polymer fiber (poly(vinyl alcohol), PVA) followed by coating the fibers with a shell of hydrophobic poly(p-xylylene) (PPX) by chemical vapor deposition (CVD). The combination of bacteria with polymer materials assured the stability and biologically activity of the bacteria in an aqueous environment for several weeks.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Hans-Meerwein-Str., D-35032, Marburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Knierim
authors.affiliation: Macromolecular Chemistry and Bayreuth Center for Colloid and Interface Science, University of Bayreuth, D-95440, Bayreuth, Germany.
authors.forename: Michaela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Enzeroth
authors.affiliation: Bioprozesstechnik, Universität Bayreuth, D-95440, Bayreuth, Germany.
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kaiser
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Hans-Meerwein-Str., D-35032, Marburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dams
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Hans-Meerwein-Str., D-35032, Marburg, Germany.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Nette
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Hans-Meerwein-Str., D-35032, Marburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Seubert
authors.affiliation: Cell Biology and LOEWE Research Centre for Synthetic Microbiology, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Karl-von-Frisch Strasse 8, 35032, Marburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Klingl
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Hebrew University, Faculty of Medicine, Jerusalem, 9112001, Israel. charlesg@ekmd.huji.ac.il.
authors.forename: Charles L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Greenblatt
authors.affiliation: Bioprozesstechnik, Universität Bayreuth, D-95440, Bayreuth, Germany.
authors.forename: Valérie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Jérôme
authors.affiliation: Macromolecular Chemistry and Bayreuth Center for Colloid and Interface Science, University of Bayreuth, D-95440, Bayreuth, Germany.
authors.forename: Seema
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Agarwal
authors.affiliation: Bioprozesstechnik, Universität Bayreuth, D-95440, Bayreuth, Germany. ruth.freitag@uni-bayreuth.de.
authors.forename: Ruth
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Freitag
authors.affiliation: Macromolecular Chemistry and Bayreuth Center for Colloid and Interface Science, University of Bayreuth, D-95440, Bayreuth, Germany. greiner@uni-bayreuth.de.
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Greiner
mesh_terms: D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D032701:Biomimetics; D016982:Micrococcus luteus / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D009576:Nitrobacter / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry; D011142:Polyvinyl Alcohol / Q000737:chemistry; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry; D018508:Water Purification; D014992:Xylenes / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D011108:Polymers; D014992:Xylenes; C513670:poly(p-xylylene); D014867:Water; D011142:Polyvinyl Alcohol