Targeted Utilization of Biofilms
Research Projects
In its first funding phase, SPP 2494 brings together 12 interdisciplinary research projects, each pursuing innovative approaches to study and exploit productive biofilms. Each project investigates specific aspects of biofilm structure, dynamics, and applications, from new reactor concepts and biofilm architectures to optimized production processes. Click on the individual projects to learn more about their objectives and methods.
Mahir Bozan | Tilo Pompe
BoostTransCoop – Steering light and mass transport in cooperative photobiocatalytic biofilms for enhanced chemical productivity
This project develops material-assisted microbial biofilms that optimize light and mass transport, enabling efficient, cooperative photobiocatalysis for sustainable chemical production such as 6-hydroxyhexanoic acid
Rohan Karande | Katja Bühler
3D-BioCat – Developing 3D-Hybrid Living Materials in Bioreactors for Mixotrophic Biofilm Catalysis
3D-BioCat is pioneering a breakthrough platform technology to cultivate light-powered mixotrophic biofilms, unlocking new possibilities for the sustainable production of chemicals
Nicole Strittmatter | Elke Dittmann-Thünemann
NOBIS – Harnessing spatial metabolomic patterns to exploit cyanobacteria of the genus Nostoc as productive biofilms
We develop biofilm-based cyanobacterial systems for sustainable production of chemicals, exploiting spatial metabolomics to optimize growth, metabolism and high-titer production of valuable natural products
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Johannes Gescher | Karin Jacobs | Rainer Meckenstock
MagBio – Magnetic Biofilm Architectures for Biotechnological Production
Development of productive biofilm architectures on magnetic particles and analysis of cell productivity using Raman-activated cell sorting and subsequent omics analyses
Natalia Tschowri | Anna-Lena Heins
StrepBio2Films –Biosynthesis, composition and their potential as productive systems in tubular Bioreactors
StrepBio2Films will explore and optimize productive biofilm formation of Streptomyces for antibiotic production in continuous tubular bioreactors, leveraging genetic tools and physiological insights – especially c-di-GMP signaling and biofilm matrix synthesis.
Sven Kerzenmacher | Ekkehard Küstermann | Christina Roggatz
Biofilm-MRT – Understanding the limitations in hydrogenotrophic and/or aerophilic productive biofilms using an MRI-based in-vivo method for the combined quantification of reactant gradients, mass transfer characteristics, and biomass growth
Developing novel magnetic resonance imaging methods to characterize living biofilms in-situ and understand the factors limiting their productivity
Marie Weinhart | Shirish Sankaran | Regine von Klitzing
LactiFilm – Hydrogel-supported co-culture biofilms of lactobacilli and phytoplankton for sustainable production of lactic acid
LactiFilm develops light-driven, hydrogel-based co-culture biofilms of phytoplankton and lactobacilli to sustainably produce lactic acid for biodegradable PLA plastics, reducing feedstock costs and energy use reducing feedstock costs and energy use
Susanne Lackner
BioMod-MBfR – Development of biofilm models as a tool for investigating and optimizing the production of medium-chain fatty acids and alcohols in membrane biofilm reactors
Development and optimization of membrane biofilm reactor (MBfR) systems for the anaerobic fermentation of synthesis gas through the use of mathematical modeling and complementary experiments, with a focus on aspects relevant for upscaling
Wolfgang Streit | Andreas Liese
BIOCYCLING – Microbial Biofilms Upcycling Plastics to Produce Valuable Chemical Compounds
Harnessing engineered biofilms, bioreactors, and real-time analytics to turn PET waste into valuable chemical.
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Nicole Vorhauer-Huget | Michael Rother
Ter-Bio-PNM – Assessing terpene productivity of Methanosarcina acetivorans biofilms in porous substrata using a mathematical-physiological approach
The project will investigate, model and maximize the terpene production of anaerobically cultivated M. acetivorans biofilms in porous substrata.
Ralf Takors | Thomas Stegmaier
3DFiberFilm – Designing High-Producing Carboxydotrophic Biofilms with the help of 3D Textiles for CO2 Utilization and Circular Bioeconomy
The 3DFiberFilm project is developing three-dimensional textile carriers that enable efficient biofilms to convert CO₂ from industrial gases into renewable chemical compounds and thus promote the circular bioeconomy.
Roland Ulber | Katja Bühler
ReActoB – Resource-Saving Biofilm Reactors for Aerosol Biotransformations
ReActoB develops novel aerosol-based biofilm reactors enabling resource-efficient and sustainable chemical transformations. By integrating microbiology, reactor engineering, and optogenetic control, it establishes a pioneering approach for scalable, eco-friendly process concept contributing to a future-oriented bioeconomy.