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

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 Dadurch können Rohstoffkosten und Energieverbrauch deutlich reduziert werden

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.

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 - Development of highly productive three-dimensional textile carriers for carboxydotrophic biofilms for the use of CO₂ for a 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.