Design of a well-defined poly(dimethylsiloxane)-based microbial nanoculture system

Organosilanes contain hydrocarbon-like backbones, allowing them to react with silicone-based agents in the presence of a catalyst and polymerize into membranes tunable transport mechanical properties. Owing their hydrophobicity, Poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) membranes, more particularly, Sylgard™ 184, have been used for applications including drug delivery, gas separation, microfluidics fabrication. However, complex composition material its ability leach out uncured oligomers make functionalization usage challenging many biological applications. This article presents design novel culture system generated using vinyl-terminated PDMS Methylhydromethylsiloxanes-Dimethylsiloxane copolymers as sole building blocks shell membrane. The nanoliter microbial that is referred “nanoculture” serves grow study dynamics microbes encapsulated semipermeable membranes. properties are investigated determine nanocultures withstand high shear stress while maintaining essential communication growth. present lays foundation could be functionalized on-demand achieve cultivation microorganisms environments other than laboratory conditions.