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Encapsulation of Bacterial Endospores in Silica Aerogel Monoliths

Lynch, John
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1385114520

Abstract Details

2013, PhD, University of Cincinnati, Arts and Sciences: Chemistry.
The encapsulation of whole cell bacteria into silica aerogel monoliths presents interesting possibilities for biosensing applications. A key obstacle in implementing such a system is the inherently biocidal nature of standard aerogel manufacture techniques. Initial attempts at encapsulating a bacterial system into a silica aerogel focused on the bacterium Escherichia coli, but were judged unsuccessful under all conditions examined. Attempts were made to protect the bacterial cells prior to silica encapsulation by pre-encapsulating them in a less biocidal procedure. Attempts were made to pretreat cells with polyelectrolyte bilayers (poly(allylamine hydrochloride (PAH) and poly(styrenesulfonate) (PSS)) of varying thickness (1-3 bilayers) and with alginic acid. Neither preparation resulted in any significant retention of cell viability on introduction to the gel solution. The encapsulation of Bacillus subtilis endospores in silica aerogel monoliths fabricated using the low temperature, supercritical carbon dioxide method was significantly more successful. The tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) based gels remained vary low density (0.14 +/-0.03 g/cm3) with good optical clarity in the visible and near-UV spectra. Encapsulated endospores display retained viability in excess of 23% after a period of 60 days under ambient conditions, and achieved attenuated logarithmic growth in the gel on rehydration in bacterial media. We also examined the production and detection of fluorescent reporter molecules produced by non-pathogenic Bacillus anthracis (34F2) cells encapsulated within silica aerogel monoliths. Encapsulated cultures readily produced the fluorescent reporter, which was detected microscopically and spectroscopically from outside the gel.
William Heineman, Ph.D. (Committee Chair)
Thomas Lamkin, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
Albert Bobst, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
Pearl Tsang, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
77 p.
Biochemistry
silica aerogel; aerogel; endospore; bacterial encapsulation

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Lynch, J. (2013). Encapsulation of Bacterial Endospores in Silica Aerogel Monoliths [Doctoral dissertation, University of Cincinnati]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1385114520

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Lynch, John. Encapsulation of Bacterial Endospores in Silica Aerogel Monoliths. 2013. University of Cincinnati, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1385114520.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Lynch, John. "Encapsulation of Bacterial Endospores in Silica Aerogel Monoliths." Doctoral dissertation, University of Cincinnati, 2013. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1385114520

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

ucin1385114520
121
© 2013, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by University of Cincinnati and OhioLINK.