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Environmental Science and Pollution... Aug 2023Sewage sludge is regarded by wastewater treatment plants as problematic, from a financial and managerial point of view. Thus, a variety of disposal routes are used, but... (Review)
Review
Sewage sludge is regarded by wastewater treatment plants as problematic, from a financial and managerial point of view. Thus, a variety of disposal routes are used, but the most popular is methane fermentation. The proportion of macromolecular compounds in sewage sludges varies, and substrates treated in methane fermentation provide different amounts of biogas with various quality and quantity. Depending on the equipment and financial capabilities for methane fermentation, different methods of sewage sludge pretreatment are available. This review presents the challenges associated with the recalcitrant structure of sewage sludge and the presence of process inhibitors. We also examined the diverse methods of sewage sludge pretreatment that increase methane yield. Moreover, in the field of biological sewage sludge treatment, three future study propositions are proposed: improved pretreatment of sewage sludge using biological methods, assess the changes in microbial consortia caused with pretreatment methods, and verification of microbial impact on biomass degradation.
Topics: Sewage; Anaerobiosis; Fermentation; Bioreactors; Methane; Biofuels; Waste Disposal, Fluid
PubMed: 37453013
DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-28613-7 -
Cytotherapy Oct 2023The Quantum cell expansion system manufactured by Terumo-BCT is perhaps the most widely reported Good Manufacturing Practice-compliant bioreactor used for the expansion... (Review)
Review
The Quantum cell expansion system manufactured by Terumo-BCT is perhaps the most widely reported Good Manufacturing Practice-compliant bioreactor used for the expansion of adherent cell populations, both for research purposes and clinical cell-based therapies/trials. Although the system was originally designed for adherent cell expansion, more recently suspension cultures and extracellular vesicle manufacturing protocols have been published using the Quantum system. Cell therapy research and regenerative medicine in general is a rapidly expanding field and as such it is likely that the use of this system will become even more widespread and perhaps mandatory, for both research and development and in the clinic. The purpose of this review is to describe, compare and discuss the diverse range of research and clinical applications currently using the Quantum system, which to our knowledge has not previously been reviewed. In addition, current and future challenges will also be discussed.
Topics: Cell Culture Techniques; Mesenchymal Stem Cells; Bioreactors; Cell- and Tissue-Based Therapy; Cell Proliferation
PubMed: 37162433
DOI: 10.1016/j.jcyt.2023.04.004 -
Journal of Environmental Management May 2024This study focused on the economic feasibility of two potential industrial-scale bioleaching technologies for metal recovery from specific metallurgical by-products,...
This study focused on the economic feasibility of two potential industrial-scale bioleaching technologies for metal recovery from specific metallurgical by-products, mainly basic oxygen steelmaking dust (BOS-D) and goethite. The investigation compared two bioleaching scaling technology configurations, including an aerated bioreactor and an aerated and stirred bioreactor across different scenarios. Results indicated that bioleaching using Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans proved financially viable for copper extraction from goethite, particularly when 5% and 10% pulp densities were used in the aerated bioreactor, and when 10% pulp density was used in the aerated and stirred bioreactor. Notably, a net present value (NPV) of $1,275,499k and an internal rate of return (IRR) of 65% for Cu recovery from goethite were achieved over 20-years after project started using the aerated and stirred bioreactor plant with a capital expenditure (CAPEX) of $119,816,550 and an operational expenditure (OPEX) of $5,896,580/year. It is expected that plant will start to make profit after one year of operation. Aerated and stirred bioreactor plant appeared more reliable alternative compared to the aerated bioreactor plant as the plant consists of 12 reactors which can allow better management and operation in small volume with multiple reactors. Despite the limitations, this techno-economic assessment emphasized the significance of selective metal recovery and plant design, and underscored the major expenses associated with the process.
Topics: Bioreactors; Metallurgy; Acidithiobacillus; Copper; Minerals; Iron Compounds
PubMed: 38643624
DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.120904 -
Bioactive Materials Jul 2023Human mesenchymal stromal cells (hMSCs) are mechanically sensitive undergoing phenotypic alterations when subjected to shear stress, cell aggregation, and substrate...
Human mesenchymal stromal cells (hMSCs) are mechanically sensitive undergoing phenotypic alterations when subjected to shear stress, cell aggregation, and substrate changes encountered in 3D dynamic bioreactor cultures. However, little is known about how bioreactor microenvironment affects the secretion and cargo profiles of hMSC-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) including the subset, "exosomes", which contain therapeutic proteins, nucleic acids, and lipids from the parent cells. In this study, bone marrow-derived hMSCs were expanded on 3D Synthemax II microcarriers in the PBS mini 0.1L Vertical-Wheel bioreactor system under variable shear stress levels at 25, 40, and 64 RPM (0.1-0.3 dyn/cm). The bioreactor system promotes EV secretion from hMSCs by 2.5-fold and upregulates the expression of EV biogenesis markers and glycolysis genes compared to the static 2D culture. The microRNA cargo was also altered in the EVs from bioreactor culture including the upregulation of miR-10, 19a, 19b, 21, 132, and 377. EV protein cargo was characterized by proteomics analysis, showing upregulation of metabolic, autophagy and ROS-related proteins comparing with 2D cultured EVs. In addition, the scalability of the Vertical-Wheel bioreactor system was demonstrated in a 0.5L bioreactor, showing similar or better hMSC-EV secretion and cargo content compared to the 0.1L bioreactor. This study advances our understanding of bio-manufacturing of stem cell-derived EVs for applications in cell-free therapy towards treating neurological disorders such as ischemic stroke, Alzheimer's disease, and multiple sclerosis.
PubMed: 37056276
DOI: 10.1016/j.bioactmat.2022.07.004 -
Gels (Basel, Switzerland) Apr 2024Hydrogels have emerged as versatile biomaterials with remarkable applications in biomedicine and tissue engineering. Here, we present an overview of recent and ongoing... (Review)
Review
Hydrogels have emerged as versatile biomaterials with remarkable applications in biomedicine and tissue engineering. Here, we present an overview of recent and ongoing research in Italy, focusing on extracellular matrix-derived, natural, and synthetic hydrogels specifically applied to biomedicine and tissue engineering. The analyzed studies highlight the versatile nature and wide range of applicability of hydrogel-based studies. Attention is also given to the integration of hydrogels within bioreactor systems, specialized devices used in biological studies to culture cells under controlled conditions, enhancing their potential for regenerative medicine, drug discovery, and drug delivery. Despite the abundance of literature on this subject, a comprehensive overview of Italian contributions to the field of hydrogels-based biomedical research is still missing and is thus our focus for this review. Consolidating a diverse range of studies, the Italian scientific community presents a complete landscape for hydrogel use, shaping the future directions of biomaterials research. This review aspires to serve as a guide and map for Italian researchers interested in the development and use of hydrogels in biomedicine.
PubMed: 38667667
DOI: 10.3390/gels10040248 -
IScience Jul 2023Cartilage tissue engineering necessitates the right mechanical cues to regenerate impaired tissue. For this reason, bioreactors can be employed to induce joint-relevant...
Cartilage tissue engineering necessitates the right mechanical cues to regenerate impaired tissue. For this reason, bioreactors can be employed to induce joint-relevant mechanical loading, such as compression and shear. However, current articulating joint bioreactor designs are lacking in terms of sample size and usability. In this paper, we describe a new, simple-to-build and operate, multi-well kinematic load bioreactor and investigate its effect on the chondrogenic differentiation of human bone marrow-derived stem cells (MSCs). We seeded MSCs into a fibrin-polyurethane scaffold and subsequently exposed the samples to a combination of compression and shear for 25 days. The mechanical loading activates transforming growth factor beta 1, upregulates chondrogenic genes, and increases sulfated glycosaminoglycan retention within the scaffolds. Such a higher-throughput bioreactor could be operated in most cell culture laboratories, dramatically accelerating and improving the testing of cells, new biomaterials, and tissue-engineered constructs.
PubMed: 37408683
DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.107092 -
Bioengineered Dec 2023This investigation is a review of the potential of aerobic granular sludge membrane bioreactor (AGMBR) in wastewater treatment due to the advantage of combination of... (Review)
Review
This investigation is a review of the potential of aerobic granular sludge membrane bioreactor (AGMBR) in wastewater treatment due to the advantage of combination of membrane and aerobic granules for reducing membrane fouling and enhancing removal performance. The AGMBR is the same as the membrane bioreactor (MBR), but the activated sludge is replaced by aerobic granular sludge. This technology combines the advantages of aerobic granular sludge, such as good settleability, strong ability to withstand shock-loadings and high organic loading rate, and capacity of simultaneous chemical oxygen demand (COD) and nitrogen removal, and advantages of membrane bioreactor (MBR) such as excellent effluent quality, high biomass content, low excess sludge production, and small land requirement. Therefore, it can be considered a promising option for efficient wastewater treatment. Most studies have shown that aerobic granules could control membrane fouling, which often occurs in MBR. The main fouling mechanism was determined to be surface fouling by floccular sludge in MBR but pore fouling by colloids and solutes in AGMBR. Aerobic granular sludge also removed COD and nitrogen simultaneously, with more than 60% total nitrogen removal efficiency. The formation and stability of aerobic granules in AGMBR with various operational modes are discussed in this study.
Topics: Sewage; Biomass; Bioreactors; Nitrogen; Technology
PubMed: 37732563
DOI: 10.1080/21655979.2023.2260139 -
Microbiology Spectrum Sep 2023Woodchip bioreactors (WBRs) are used to remove nutrients, especially nitrate, from subsurface drainage. The nitrogen removal efficiency of WBRs, however, is limited by...
Woodchip bioreactors (WBRs) are used to remove nutrients, especially nitrate, from subsurface drainage. The nitrogen removal efficiency of WBRs, however, is limited by low temperatures and the availability of labile carbon. Bioaugmentation and biostimulation are potential approaches to enhance nitrate removal of WBRs under cold conditions, but their effectiveness is still unclear. Here, we clarified the effects of bioaugmentation and biostimulation on the microbiomes and nitrate removal rates of WBRs. As a bioaugmentation treatment, we inoculated WBR-borne cold-adapted denitrifying bacteria strain WB94 and strain BE2.4 into the WBRs located at Willmar, MN, USA. As a biostimulation treatment, acetate was added to the WBRs to promote denitrification. Woodchip samples were collected from multiple locations in each WBR before and after the treatments and used for the microbiome analysis. The 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing showed that the microbiomes changed by the treatments and season. The high-throughput quantitative PCR for nitrogen cycle genes revealed a higher abundance of denitrification genes at locations closer to the WBR inlet, suggesting that denitrifiers are unevenly present in WBRs. In addition, a positive relationship was identified between the abundance of strain BE2.4 and those of and in the WBRs. Based on generalized linear modeling, the abundance of and was shown to be useful in predicting the nitrate removal rate of WBRs. Taken together, these results suggest that the bioaugmentation and biostimulation treatments can influence denitrifier populations, thereby influencing the nitrate removal of WBRs. IMPORTANCE Nitrate pollution is a serious problem in agricultural areas in the U.S. Midwest and other parts of the world. Woodchip bioreactor is a promising technology that uses microbial denitrification to remove nitrate from agricultural subsurface drainage, although the reactor's nitrate removal performance is limited under cold conditions. This study showed that the inoculation of cold-adapted denitrifiers (i.e., bioaugmentation) and the addition of labile carbon (i.e., biostimulation) can influence the microbial populations and enhance the reactor's performance under cold conditions. This finding will help establish a strategy to mitigate nitrate pollution.
PubMed: 37747182
DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.04053-22 -
PeerJ 2023The myrtle () plant naturally grows in the temperate Mediterranean and subtropical regions and is used for various purposes; thus, it is among the promising species of...
The myrtle () plant naturally grows in the temperate Mediterranean and subtropical regions and is used for various purposes; thus, it is among the promising species of horticultural crops. This study aimed to evaluate and compare the performance of different propagation systems, including rooting, solid media propagation, rooting, and with the Plantform bioreactor system, in achieving healthy and rapid growth of four myrtle genotypes with diverse genetic origins and well-regional adaptation. The selection of myrtle genotypes with distinct genetic backgrounds and proven adaptability to specific regions allowed for a comprehensive assessment of the propagation systems under investigation. Present findings proved that the Plantform system, the new-generation tissue culture system, was quite successful in micropropagation and rooting myrtle genotypes. We succeeded micropropagation and rooting of diverse wild myrtle genotypes, enabling year-round propagation without reliance on specific seasons or environmental conditions. The process involved initiating cultures from explants and multiplying them through shoot proliferation in a controlled environment. This contributes to sustainable plant propagation, preserving and utilizing genetic resources for conservation and agriculture.
Topics: Myrtus; Agriculture; Bioreactors; Crops, Agricultural; Environment, Controlled
PubMed: 37744226
DOI: 10.7717/peerj.16061 -
Bioactive Materials Jul 2023As a renewable and sustainable source for energy, environment, and biomedical applications, microalgae and microalgal biodiesel have attracted great attention. However,...
As a renewable and sustainable source for energy, environment, and biomedical applications, microalgae and microalgal biodiesel have attracted great attention. However, their applications are confined due to the cost-efficiency of microalgal mass production. One-step strategy and continuous culturing systems could be solutions. However, current studies for optimization throughout microalgae-based biofuel production pipelines are generally derived from the batch culture process. Better tools are needed to study algal growth kinetics in continuous systems. A microfluidic chemostatic bioreactor was presented here, providing low-bioadhesive cultivations for algae in a cooperative environment of gas, nutrition, and temperature (GNT) involved with high throughput. The chip was used to mimic the continuous culture environment of bioreactors. It allowed simultaneously studying of 8 × 8 different chemostatic conditions on algal growth and oil production in parallel on a 7 × 7 cm footprint. On-chip experiments of batch and continuous cultures of . were performed to study growth and lipid accumulation under different nitrogen concentrations. The results demonstrated that microalgal cultures can be regulated to grow and accumulate lipids concurrently, thus enhancing lipid productivity in one step. The developed on-chip culturing condition screening, which was more suitable for continuous bioreactor, was achieved at a half shorter time, 64-times higher throughput, and less reagent consumption. It could be used to establish chemostat cultures in continuous bioreactors which can dramatically accelerate the development of renewable and sustainable algal for CO fixation and biosynthesis and related systems for advanced sustainable energy, food, pharmacy, and agriculture with enormous social and ecological benefits.
PubMed: 37056278
DOI: 10.1016/j.bioactmat.2022.07.012