Bacterially assembled biopolyester nanobeads for removing cadmium from water

• Published in: Water research (Oxford) 2020-11, Vol.186, p.116357-116357, Article 116357
• Main Authors: Marques, Catarina R., Wibowo, David, Rubio-Reyes, Patricia, Serafim, Luísa S., Soares, Amadeu M.V.M., Rehm, Bernd H.A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biosorption; Cadmium; Contact assay; Metal-binding peptides; PHA synthase
• ISSN: 0043-1354; 1879-2448
• DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2020.116357

•Bioengineering of Cd-binding nanobeads self-assembled inside E. coli.•Enhanced cd adsorption and removal by functionalized beads.•Safe and efficient bioremediation agents for in situ applications. Cadmium (Cd)-contaminated waterbodies are a worldwide concern for the environment, impacting human health. To address the need for efficient, sustainable and cost-effective remediation measures, we developed innovative Cd bioremediation agents by engineering Escherichia coli to assemble poly(3-hydroxybutyric acid) (PHB) beads densely coated with Cd-binding peptides. This was accomplished by translational fusion of Cd-binding peptides to the N- or C-terminus of a PHB synthase that catalyzes PHB synthesis and mediates assembly of Cd2 or Cd1 coated PHB beads, respectively. Cd1 beads showed greater Cd adsorption with 441 nmol Cd mg−1 bead mass when compared to Cd2 beads (334 nmol Cd mg−1 bead-mass) and plain beads (238 nmol Cd mg−1 bead-mass). The Cd beads were not ecotoxic and did attenuate Cd-spiked solutions toxicity. Overall, the bioengineered beads provide a means to remediate Cd-contaminated sites, can be cost-effectively produced at large scale, and offer a biodegradable and safe alternative to synthetic ecotoxic treatments. [Display omitted]