Optimization and Characterization of PHA (SCL-SCL) Copolymer by Indigenous Bacillus thuringiensis A102 Strain for Biomedical Applications.

PHA is one of the leading commercially important bio-polyesteric compounds piled up as an intracellular lipid-based energy storage compound by numerous microorganisms. An indigenous Gram-positive bacterium isolated from fire ant (Solenopsis invicta) has known to potentially accumulate PHA. Various nutritional elements like carbon, nitrogen, phosphate and C/N ratio were optimized. The indigenous B.t.A102 strain grown in optimized RC medium yielded PHA of about 3.25 g/L. The extracted polymer was characterized by NMR, GC-MS, X-ray diffraction and thermal analysis via TGA & DTA. The characterized PHA was used to prepare scaffold using the solvent casting method. The non-toxic nature of the composite material was evaluated on NIH/3T3 fibroblast cell lines using different staining (like Giemsa staining, AO/EB dual staining, neutral red staining) techniques and cell viability assay. This paper dealt with the optimization of the media components that increase PHA production and primary in vitro testing for its possible application as wound dressing materials.