Immobilization of Microbial Cells on Polymeric Matrices Modified by Plasma Treatment

It is shown that microbial cells can be immobilized on polymer matrices modified via plasma treatment. On the example of microbial cells Azospirillum brasilense Sp 7, A. lipoferum Sp59b, and Escherichia coli XL-1, it was found that the immobilization efficiency of biological objects depends on the film processing time in plasma. Treatment of a polystyrene film in a high-frequency discharge plasma allowed a significant increase in the lifetime of microbial cells immobilized on its surface. It was shown that the optimal time for film processing in plasma was 30 s, the time to immobilize microbial cells was ~ 20 min, and bacteria remained viable for up to 6 months after immobilization. The use of matrices modified with plasma treatment as a carrier for immobilized the microbial cells to production biosensors is proposed.