US 12,201,110 B2
Polymeric particles containing microorganisms
Gabriele Berg, Graz (AT); and Henry Müller, Graz (AT)
Assigned to TECHNISCHE UNIVERSITÄT GRAZ, Graz (AT); and BIOTENZZ GESELLSCHAFT FÜR BIOTECHNOLOGIE MBH, Graz (AT)
Filed by Technische Universität Graz, Graz (AT); and Biotenzz Gessellschaft für Biotechnologie mbH, Graz (AT)
Filed on Feb. 23, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/113,384.
Application 18/113,384 is a division of application No. 16/648,535, granted, now 11,589,579, previously published as PCT/EP2018/075760, filed on Sep. 24, 2018.
Claims priority of application No. PCT/EP2017/073994 (WO), filed on Sep. 22, 2017.
Prior Publication US 2023/0189799 A1, Jun. 22, 2023
Int. Cl. A01N 25/28 (2006.01); A01N 63/20 (2020.01); A01N 63/22 (2020.01); A01N 63/27 (2020.01); A01N 63/30 (2020.01); A61K 9/16 (2006.01); A61K 35/74 (2015.01); C12N 1/04 (2006.01); C12N 1/20 (2006.01)
CPC A01N 25/28 (2013.01) [A01N 63/20 (2020.01); A01N 63/22 (2020.01); A01N 63/27 (2020.01); A01N 63/30 (2020.01); A61K 9/1617 (2013.01); A61K 9/1652 (2013.01); A61K 35/74 (2013.01); C12N 1/04 (2013.01); C12N 1/20 (2013.01)] 11 Claims
 
1. A method for improving the viability of microorganisms during storage and application, comprising the steps of:
a) suspending one or more pre-cultures of microorganisms in polymeric substance solution,
b) immobilizing said microorganisms by dropping the solution of step a) into multivalent ion solution thereby obtaining encapsulated microorganisms in polymeric particles,
c) cultivating the encapsulated microorganisms in said polymeric particles for at least 12 hours in liquid media until an increase of the cell density of at least 2 to 10 log is obtained, wherein the microorganisms are in the form of multicellular aggregates within the polymeric particles, and wherein the microorganisms within the aggregates are embedded in a self-produced extracellular biogenic matrix,
d) collecting the polymeric particles, and
e) drying the polymeric particles.