An outer membrane-inspired polymer coating protects and endows E. coli with novel functionalities

A bio-inspired membrane made of Pluronic® L-121 is produced around E. coli thanks to the simple co-extrusion of bacteria and polymer vesicles. The block copolymer-coated bacteria can withstand a variety of harsh shocks, e.g. temperature, pressure, osmolarity and chemical agents. The polymer membrane also makes the bacteria resistant against enzymatic digestion and enables them to degrade toxic compounds, improving their performance as whole-cell biocatalysts. Moreover, the polymer membrane acts as a new region for surface modification. Being decorated with α-amylase or lysozyme, the cells are endowed with the ability to digest starch, or self-predatory bacteria are created. Thus, without any genetic engineering, the phenotype of encapsulated bacteria is changed, as they become sturdier and gain novel metabolic functionalities.