Influences and resistance development of microorganisms on low concentrations of nanomaterials in geometrically defined environments

• Applicant: Dr. Denys Makarov, since 1/2023
• Subject Area: Electronic Semiconductors, Components and Circuits, Integrated Systems, Sensor Technology, Theoretical Electrical Engineering
• Term: since 2021
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 493847477

Nanotechnology has expanded rapidly over the past few years and nanomaterials are used extensively in industrial and domestic applications. In addition to their enormous benefits, due to the potential risk of nanomaterials on the entire ecosystem, including humans, numerous studies have been carried out with a focus on the interaction between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells and nanomaterials in physical contact in complex environmental matrices. Those studies allowed knowledge about these influences, but show weaknesses in the analysis of low concentrations (in the ng / ml range), since the analysis methods contained little statistical evaluation potential with little possibility of automation. Research into low nanoparticle concentrations using conventional methods is proving to be difficult and therefore requires a new, suitable technology.The project is dealing with answering the key biological questions, what effect nanoparticles in very low concentrations have on prokaryotic cells (E. coli) and whether resistances against these materials can develop. For this purpose, the development of a drop-based analysis platform is being dealt with, which allows analysis in the high-throughput methodThe scientific validation by means of the technological development of the platform represent the two central points of this project. It aims to minimize the experimental period while maximizing the detection efficiency, as well as a strong increase in the statistical analysis. The initial volume with nanomaterials and bacteria is segmented using nanoliter droplets (100 nl). Each drop can be seen as a microenvironment and as an independent experiment, where the time required for interactions is reduced due to the small volume at high statistical evaluation. Each drop is tested for different parameters, such as the vital parameters of the bacteria (pH value) and the particle concentration, using electronic and optical high-throughput analysis in the fluidic cchannel system (up to the kHz range). The methods used describe optical measurements such as absorption measurements, as well as electrochemical measurements using ultra-sensitive nanowire field effect transistors and nano capacitors.This platform enables a multitude of new findings and applications such as insights into the resistance development of bacteria over several generations to different nanoparticle concentrations and allows further in-depth analyzes of additional appropriations of resistances (e.g. by means of horizontal gene transfer). In addition, by means of the influences of the interaction of nanomaterials and microorganisms, conclusions about the transmission path to humans can be traced. Finally, the quality of soils can be determined, which describes the influence of nanomaterials on microorganisms living in the soil.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• Ehemaliger Antragsteller: Dr.-Ing. Julian Schütt, until 12/2022