Dresden 2026 – scientific programme

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BP: Fachverband Biologische Physik

BP 7: Poster Session I

BP 7.5: Poster

Monday, March 9, 2026, 15:00–17:00, P5

LactiFilm: Hydrogel supported co-culture biofilms of lactobacilli and phytoplankton for sustainable production of lactic acid — •Carina Schneider and Regine von Klitzing — TU Darmstadt, 64289 Darmstadt, Germany

Lactic acid is an essential bulk chemical used across the food, pharma, and cosmetics industry. Recently, its demand has been rising as the monomer for synthesizing polylactic acid, a major biodegradable alternative to conventional plastic. Hence, biological synthesis of lactic acid offers a greener production option. In this work, we develop a biofilm-inspired strategy by immobilizing lactobacilli and algae in smart hydrogels.

The algae immobilization matrix is formed from cross-linkable PNIPAM (Poly N-Isopropylacrylamide) microgels containing the UV-sensitive comonomer HMABP (2-Hydroxy-4-(methacryloyloxy)benzophenone), enabling microgel crosslinking into a stable hydrogel film. Due to the volume phase transition temperature of PNIPAM, the matrix exhibits controllable swelling and deswelling behavior. This responsiveness allows for regulated partial lysis of the algae to release nutrients that support lactic-acid production. To assess the mechanical strength of the hydrogel, we perform atomic force microscopy (AFM) indentation measurements.

Keywords: Hydrogels; Lactic Acid; Biofilm; AFM; Sustainability