A compartmentalized microsystem helps understanding the uptake of benzo[a]pyrene by fungi during soil bioremediation processes

Hydrophobic organic soil contaminants such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) are poorly mobile in the aqueous phase and tend to sorb matrix, resulting low bioavailability. Some filamentous fungi efficient degrading this kind of pollutants. However, mechanism mobilization hydrophobic compounds by non-motile microorganisms needs investigations improve pollutant bioavailability bioremediation efficiency. Usual homogeneous media for microbial growth lab suited model soil, which is a compartmentalized heterogeneous habitat. A microfluidic device was designed implement compartmentalization fungal inoculum source benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) deposit solid crystals order gain further insight into mechanisms involved access contaminant its uptake soils. Thus device, two chambers connected an array parallel microchannels that wide enough allow individual hyphae grow through them. Macro-cultures Talaromyces helicus direct contact with BaP have shown intracellular storage lipid bodies despite propensity cross phases simulation. Observations T. laser scanning confocal microscopy indicate preferential at close range cell wall. However faint staining some before also suggests extracellular transport phenomenon. Macro-culture filtrates analyses releases non-lipidic surface-active able lower surface tension culture 49.4 mN/m. Thus, these results highlight significance active reach their micro-environments potential them biostimulation approaches mycoremediation.