POLYMERIC ENCAPSULATION OF WHOLE CELLS AS BIOREACTORS
In one inventive concept, a mixture for forming polymer-encapsulated whole cells includes a pre-polymer, a photoinitiator, and a plurality of whole cells. In another inventive concept, a product includes a structure including a plurality of whole cells encapsulated in a polymer, where the polymer is cross-linked.
1 . A mixture for forming polymer-encapsulated whole cells, the mixture comprising:
a pre-polymer;
a photoinitiator; and
a plurality of whole cells.
2 . The mixture as recited in claim 1 , wherein the pre-polymer includes at least one pre-polymer selected from the group consisting of: poly(ethylene) glycol, amphiphilic silicones, alginate, N-isopropylacrylamide, and methacrylic acid.
3 . The mixture as recited in claim 2 , wherein the pre-polymer is poly(ethylene) glycol acrylate.
4 . The mixture as recited in claim 2 , wherein a concentration of the pre-polymer is in a range of about 10 weight % to about 50 weight % of a total weight of the mixture.
5 . The mixture as recited in claim 1 , wherein a molecular weight of the pre-polymer is in a range of about 575 Daltons to about 100,000 Daltons.
6 . The mixture as recited in claim 1 , wherein a molecular weight of the pre-polymer is in a range of about 10,000 Daltons to about 40,000 Daltons.
7 . The mixture as recited in claim 1 , wherein the whole cells are whole living cells.
8 . The mixture as recited in claim 1 , wherein the whole cells are dried whole cells.
9 . The mixture as recited in claim 1 , wherein the whole cells have a characteristic to convert a chemical reactant to a product, wherein the chemical reactant is a gas and the product is a liquid.
10 . The mixture as recited in claim 1 , wherein the whole cells are configured to convert methane to methanol.
11 . The mixture as recited in claim 1 , wherein the whole cells are selected from the group consisting of: methanotrophic organisms, methylotrophic organisms, and yeast.
12 . The mixture as recited in claim 1 , wherein a concentration of whole cells has a cell optical density in a range from about 4.0 to about 160.
13 . The mixture as recited in claim 1 , wherein a concentration of whole cells has a cell optical density in a range of at least 10 to about 60.
14 . A product, comprising:
a structure comprising a plurality of whole cells encapsulated in a polymer, wherein the polymer is cross-linked.
15 . The product of claim 14 , wherein the polymer includes a poly(ethylene) glycol polymer.
16 . The product of claim 14 , wherein a molecular weight of the polymer is in a range of about 10,000 Daltons to about 40,000 Daltons.
17 . The product of claim 14 , wherein the whole cells have a characteristic to convert a chemical reactant to a product, wherein the chemical reactant is a gas and the product is a liquid.
18 . The product of claim 14 , wherein the whole cells are selected from the group consisting of: methanotrophic organisms, methylotrophic organisms, and yeast.
19 . A bioreactor, comprising:
a three-dimensional structure, wherein the three-dimensional structure is comprised of a gas-permeable material; and
polymer-encapsulated whole cells, wherein at least one side of the three-dimensional structure is infilled with the polymer-encapsulated whole cells.
20 . The bioreactor as recited in claim 19 , the three-dimensional structure is a printed three-dimensional structure.
21 . The bioreactor as recited in claim 20 , wherein the printed three-dimensional structure is a lattice.
22 . The bioreactor as recited in claim 20 , wherein the printed three-dimensional structure is a tube, wherein a wall of the tube is gas-permeable, wherein an inner surface of the wall defines a center portion of the tube.
23 . The bioreactor as recited in claim 22 , comprising a buffer in the center portion of the tube, wherein the buffer comprises nutrients for the polymer-encapsulated whole cells.
24 . The bioreactor as recited in claim 23 , wherein the polymer-encapsulated whole cells comprise a plurality of living whole cells, wherein the plurality of living whole cells have a characteristic to remain viable in the bioreactor for a duration of at least five days.
25 . The bioreactor as recited in claim 19 , wherein a concentration of whole cells has a cell optical density in a range from about 4.0 to about 160.
26 . The bioreactor as recited in claim 19 , wherein a thickness of the at least one side of the three-dimensional structure is in a range of about 10 microns to about 5000 microns.
27 . A method for forming the bioreactor as recited in claim 19 , the method comprising:
forming the three-dimensional structure using an additive manufacturing technique;
infilling the at least one side of the three-dimensional structure with a mixture for forming the polymer-encapsulated whole cells; and
curing the three-dimensional structure infilled with the mixture.
28 . The method for forming the bioreactor as recited in claim 27 , wherein the three-dimensional structure is a lattice, wherein the additive manufacturing technique is selected from the group consisting of: projection microstereolithography and direct ink writing.