Freeze-cast SiOC ceramics supporting the growth of industrially relevant microorganisms.

Investigating the compatibility of ceramic support materials with industrially relevant microorganisms is a key starting point towards utilizing innovative ceramic frameworks for microbial culture support. This study demonstrates the biocompatibility of macroporous, freeze-cast SiOC monoliths with y...

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Main Authors: Katharina Rauchenwald, Roghayeh Shirvani, Tobias Edtmaier, Matthias Steiger, Thomas Konegger
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2025-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0325311
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author Katharina Rauchenwald
Roghayeh Shirvani
Tobias Edtmaier
Matthias Steiger
Thomas Konegger
author_facet Katharina Rauchenwald
Roghayeh Shirvani
Tobias Edtmaier
Matthias Steiger
Thomas Konegger
author_sort Katharina Rauchenwald
collection DOAJ
description Investigating the compatibility of ceramic support materials with industrially relevant microorganisms is a key starting point towards utilizing innovative ceramic frameworks for microbial culture support. This study demonstrates the biocompatibility of macroporous, freeze-cast SiOC monoliths with yeast Komagataella phaffii and bacteria Escherichia coli. In a first step, cultivations were carried out in the presence of non-macroporous SiOC materials pyrolyzed at 700 °C or 900 °C, which were further compared to Al2O3 and SiO2 as conventional ceramic and glass reference materials. Additionally, SiOC ceramics impregnated with 3 wt.% Cu were evaluated regarding cytotoxic effects, since Cu is recognized for its antimicrobial properties. Both E. coli and K. phaffii showed no growth inhibition in the presence of SiOC, yielding specific growth rates of 0.46 ± 0.01 h-1 and 0.088 ± 0.002 h-1, respectively, showing overall biocompatibility with SiOC. While E. coli showed growth inhibition in the presence of Cu via prolonged lag-phases, K. phaffii was resistant to Cu-modified SiOC. In the next step, adsorption of cells to macroporous SiOC was investigated after cultivation by electron microscopy of fracture surfaces of freeze-cast SiOC, structured with tert-butyl alcohol templating directional channels with pore opening diameters around 45 μm. Prevalent biofilm formation was observed within the channel walls with clear evidence for growth of K. phaffii as cell agglomerates. The study features promising results for promotion of the growth of E. coli and K. phaffii on freeze-cast SiOC ceramics, providing a versatile catalyst carrier design.
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spelling doaj-art-b96318f2e2104f31a81988e24b3b4f8d2025-08-20T03:45:34ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032025-01-01206e032531110.1371/journal.pone.0325311Freeze-cast SiOC ceramics supporting the growth of industrially relevant microorganisms.Katharina RauchenwaldRoghayeh ShirvaniTobias EdtmaierMatthias SteigerThomas KoneggerInvestigating the compatibility of ceramic support materials with industrially relevant microorganisms is a key starting point towards utilizing innovative ceramic frameworks for microbial culture support. This study demonstrates the biocompatibility of macroporous, freeze-cast SiOC monoliths with yeast Komagataella phaffii and bacteria Escherichia coli. In a first step, cultivations were carried out in the presence of non-macroporous SiOC materials pyrolyzed at 700 °C or 900 °C, which were further compared to Al2O3 and SiO2 as conventional ceramic and glass reference materials. Additionally, SiOC ceramics impregnated with 3 wt.% Cu were evaluated regarding cytotoxic effects, since Cu is recognized for its antimicrobial properties. Both E. coli and K. phaffii showed no growth inhibition in the presence of SiOC, yielding specific growth rates of 0.46 ± 0.01 h-1 and 0.088 ± 0.002 h-1, respectively, showing overall biocompatibility with SiOC. While E. coli showed growth inhibition in the presence of Cu via prolonged lag-phases, K. phaffii was resistant to Cu-modified SiOC. In the next step, adsorption of cells to macroporous SiOC was investigated after cultivation by electron microscopy of fracture surfaces of freeze-cast SiOC, structured with tert-butyl alcohol templating directional channels with pore opening diameters around 45 μm. Prevalent biofilm formation was observed within the channel walls with clear evidence for growth of K. phaffii as cell agglomerates. The study features promising results for promotion of the growth of E. coli and K. phaffii on freeze-cast SiOC ceramics, providing a versatile catalyst carrier design.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0325311
spellingShingle Katharina Rauchenwald
Roghayeh Shirvani
Tobias Edtmaier
Matthias Steiger
Thomas Konegger
Freeze-cast SiOC ceramics supporting the growth of industrially relevant microorganisms.
PLoS ONE
title Freeze-cast SiOC ceramics supporting the growth of industrially relevant microorganisms.
title_full Freeze-cast SiOC ceramics supporting the growth of industrially relevant microorganisms.
title_fullStr Freeze-cast SiOC ceramics supporting the growth of industrially relevant microorganisms.
title_full_unstemmed Freeze-cast SiOC ceramics supporting the growth of industrially relevant microorganisms.
title_short Freeze-cast SiOC ceramics supporting the growth of industrially relevant microorganisms.
title_sort freeze cast sioc ceramics supporting the growth of industrially relevant microorganisms
url https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0325311
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AT tobiasedtmaier freezecastsiocceramicssupportingthegrowthofindustriallyrelevantmicroorganisms
AT matthiassteiger freezecastsiocceramicssupportingthegrowthofindustriallyrelevantmicroorganisms
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