Edvaldo Antonio Ribeiro Rosa, Rosimeire Takaki Rosa, Alinne Ulbrich Mores Rymovicz, Cristina Rauen Ribas, Marcela Cardoso Selow
Xenobiotics Research Unit, The POntifical catholic University of Paraná, Curitiba, Brazil
Microbial biotransformation (a.k.a. biocatalysis, bioconversion) processes are amongst the smarter and greener ways to obtain new therapeutic molecules. Such processes occur when a microorganism converts a substrate into new molecule(s) by adding chemical functional groups, mainly via P450 cytochromes. Consolidated data reveals that immobilized cells tend to carry out biotransformations in a more promptly manner and several processes have been developed for that. In this study, we propose the use of filter paper as a support matrix for microbial attachment and further growth as biofilm.
A dedicated biofilm bioreactor was conceived and built. Among a diversity of microorganisms possible to be employed, Candida albicans was elected due to its wide morphological multiplicity. Eight-millimeter paper disks were soaked with ca. 106 cells of C. albicans and transferred to the biofilm bioreactor. Sterile culture broth was admitted in a slow flux and consistent biofilms were obtained after 72 h. Scanning electron microscopy revealed the occurrence of pseudo and true hyphae in abundance, even within the paper matrix.
Authors propose that paper-based matrixes may be considered as suitable supports for the growth of biofilms, which may serve as living biocatalysts.