Encapsulation of <i>shewanella</i> in the redox phospholipid polymer hydrogel for microbial fuel cell fabrication

Abstract

In this research, encapsulation of Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 in the phospholipid polymer hydrogel and electrochemical property of the hydrogel with immobilized shewanella was investigated. Cytocompatible and electron transfer mediated polymer based on the water-soluble phospholipid polymer, poly(2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine (MPC)-co-n-butyl methacrylate (BMA)-co-p-vinylphenylboronic acid (VPBA)-co-vinylferrocene (VFc)) (PMBVF) was synthesized by conventional radical polymerization method. Shewanella which have the ability to generate and transfer extracellular electron without any external mediator, have significant potential on the fabrication of microbial fuel cell. The water-soluble PMBVF was dissolved in the cell culture medium containing shewanella cells. Poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) solution was added to the PMBVF solution with gently mixing, in which case, a reversible PMBVF/PVA hydrogel with encapsulated shewanella was obtained. The viability of the encapsulated shewanella was calculated by the fluorescence microscopy. The electrochemical property of the PMBVF/PVA hydrogel containing shewanella was measured by cyclic voltammograms (CV) and amperometric i-t curve. PMBVF/PVA hydrogel can provide mild environment for the shewanella and maintain the cellular function for longtime. The generated current was higher than that cultured with normal medium.