title: Effect of PCL/PEG-Based Membranes on Actinorhodin Production in Streptomyces coelicolor Cultivations.
abstract: The actinomycetes, Gram-positive filamentous bacteria, are the most prolific source of natural occurring antibiotics. At an industrial level, antibiotics from actinomycete strains are produced by means of submerged fermentations, where one of the major factors negatively affecting bioproductivity is the pellet-shaped biomass growth. The immobilization of microorganisms on properly chosen supports prevents cell-cell aggregation resulting in improving the biosynthetic capability. Thus, novel porous biopolymer-based devices are developed by combining melt mixing and particulate leaching. In particular, polycaprolactone (PCL), polyethylene glycol (PEG), and sodium chloride (NaCl) with different grain sizes are used to prepare PCL/PEG/NaCl blends in the melt. These blends are then leached to obtain PCL-based porous membranes that are used as solid support for the growth of Streptomyces coelicolor, a model streptomycete used to produce various antibiotics including the blue colored actinorhodin (ACT). Thereafter, the effect of the devices' characteristics on the bacterial growth and on the production ACT is evaluated. The results showed that ACT production is strongly dependent on the pore size distribution of the device. Moreover, membranes with pores ranging from 90 to 110 μm are able to offer a potential improvement in volumetric productivity of ACT if compared to conventional submerged liquid culture.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Ingegneria Civile, University of Palermo, Ambientale, Aerospaziale, dei Materiali Viale delle Scienze Ed. 6, 90128, Palermo, Italy.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Scaffaro
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Ingegneria Civile, University of Palermo, Ambientale, Aerospaziale, dei Materiali Viale delle Scienze Ed. 6, 90128, Palermo, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lopresti
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche, University of Palermo, Chimiche e Farmaceutiche, Viale delle Scienze Ed. 16, 90128, Palermo, Italy.
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sutera
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Ingegneria Civile, University of Palermo, Ambientale, Aerospaziale, dei Materiali Viale delle Scienze Ed. 6, 90128, Palermo, Italy.
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Botta
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche, University of Palermo, Chimiche e Farmaceutiche, Viale delle Scienze Ed. 16, 90128, Palermo, Italy.
authors.forename: Rosa Maria
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Fontana
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche, University of Palermo, Chimiche e Farmaceutiche, Viale delle Scienze Ed. 16, 90128, Palermo, Italy.
authors.forename: Anna Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Puglia
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche, University of Palermo, Chimiche e Farmaceutiche, Viale delle Scienze Ed. 16, 90128, Palermo, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gallo
mesh_terms: D000880:Anthraquinones / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000737:chemistry; D002449:Cell Aggregation / Q000187:drug effects; D005285:Fermentation; D011091:Polyesters / Q000737:chemistry; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000737:chemistry; D048372:Streptomyces coelicolor / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development; D000095622:Benzoisochromanequinones
chemical_list: D000880:Anthraquinones; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D011091:Polyesters; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; C016240:polycaprolactone; C013390:actinorhodin; D000095622:Benzoisochromanequinones
keywords: PCL/PEG membrane; S. coelicolor immobilization; actinorhodin production; melt mixing; particulate leaching