Encapsulation of bacteria and viruses in electrospun fibers

Abstract

A method of preserving organisms in viable form, the method comprising: suspending organisms in a solution of electrospinnable polymer; drawing droplets of said solution through a spinneret; applying an electrostatic field to said droplets under electrospinning conditions; so as to form fibers having a diameter no greater than about 5 μm within which distinct organisms are encapsulated in viable form.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of preserving organisms in viable form, the method comprising:
 suspending organisms in a solution of electrospinnable polymer;   drawing droplets of said solution through a spinneret;   
       applying an electrostatic field to said droplets under electrospinning conditions;
 so as to form fibers having a diameter no greater than about 5 μm within which distinct organisms are encapsulated in viable form. 
 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said biological matter is selected from the group consisting of bacteria and non-filamentous viruses. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said solution further comprises an osmolarity-regulating agent. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein said osmolarity-regulating agent is selected from the group consisting of glycerol, a polysaccharide polymer, glycol, and polyethylene glycol. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said bacteria comprises  Escherichia coli  or  Staphylococcus albus.    
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said viruses are selected from the group consisting of bacterial viruses T7, T4, and λ, Herpes simplex, Cytomegalovirus, Papilloma virus, Adenovirus, Burkitt lymphoma virus, Arbovirus, Arenavirus, Epstein-Barr virus, Varicella virus, Cornavirus, Coxsackievirus, Eboli virus, Enterovirus, Hepatitis virus, Influenza virus, Marburg virus, Measles virus, Mumps virus, Polio virus, Rhinovirus, Rubella virus, Smallpox virus, Rabies virus, and Rotavirus. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said bacterial viruses are grown on  E. coli  strain. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein said  E. coli  strain comprises K12. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said spinneret is selected from the group consisting of a pipette and a syringe. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said syringe further comprises a needle and a syringe pump. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said needle has an inner diameter of from about 0.1 to about 2 mm. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said electrospinnable polymer is selected from the group consisting of polyamides, poly(siloxanes), poly(silicones), poly(ethylene), poly(vinyl pyrrolidone), poly(2-hydroxy ethyl methacrylate), poly(N-vinyl pyrrolidone), poly(methyl methacrylate), poly(vinyl alcohol) (, poly(acrylic acid), poly(vinyl acetate), polyacrylamide, poly(ethylene-co-vinyl acetate), poly(ethylene glycol), poly(methacrylic acid), polylactides, polyglycolides, poly(lactide-co-glycolides), polyanhydrides, polyorthoesters, Poly(carbonate), poly(acrylo nitrile), poly(ethylene oxide), polyaniline, polyvinyl carbazole, polystyrene, poly(vinyl phenol), polyhydroxyacids, poly(caprolactone), polyanhydrides, polyhydroxyalkanoates, polyurethanes, collagen, albumin, alginate, chitosan, starch, hyaluronic acid, and blends and copolymers thereof. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said electrospinnable polymer comprises polyvinyl alcohol. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said applying an electrostatic field comprises inserting a first electrode in said spinneret, positioning a counterelectrode at a distance from said first electrode and applying a high voltage between said first electrode and said counterelectrode. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said distance is up to about 20 cm. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said high voltage current comprises a current of up to about 30 kV. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said first electrode is formed from copper and said counterelectrode is formed from aluminum. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said counterelectrode is a collector for said fibers. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein said collector is a rotating disc. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein said disc is provided with a tapered edge.