Growth control agent for filamentous fungi: FDM based 3D printed cubes for suspended Aspergillus sojae fermentation.

Abstract

The main problem for submerged fermentation of filamentous fungi is the nutrition limitation with high cell density or cell leakage by the uncontrollable hyphae, clusters, or pellets. There are several techniques such as microparticle, immobilization, pH shifting, substrate limitation etc. for controlling filamentous fungi growth on submerged fermentation. In this research, FDM (Fused Deposition Modelling) based 3D printed cubes is used for growth control agent of recombinant Aspergillus sojae for the first time. Lattice structure sizes, number of cubes and pH were chosen to be main factors of fermentation in order to study the combine effect of the factors on A. sojae fermentation. The results revealed that specific activity values are improved from 2045.96 U/mg (the highest control activity) to 3291.67 U/mg with lower pellet sizes and controllable growth. FDM based 3D printed cubes was successfully controlled the recombinant Aspergillus sojae fermentation and enhanced β-mannanase production. In addition, this research was also showed that FDM based 3D printed cubes also have the potential to be used as immobilization materials like SLS based 3D printed products in further research.