Bioprinted core-shell living material platform for spatially controlled encapsulation of Bacillus subtilis and sustained metabolite exchange

Abstract

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) represents an escalating global health crisis, demanding alternative strategies to reduce resistant pathogen burden across environments. Microbe-based biocontrol is promising, yet effectively deploying it in practical settings remains challenging. In this study, we present a 3D bioprinted core-shell construct featuring a polyethylene glycol diacrylate (PEGDA) shell with tunable nanoscale porosity, encapsulating germinable spores of the biocontrol agent Bacillus subtilis TH035. This configuration supports long-term spore viability while providing protection from common environmental stressors. The nanoporous PEGDA shell facilitates sufficient metabolite exchange for B. subtilis germination and growth, as well as inhibition of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) growth. This approach demonstrates the feasibility of embedding B. subtilis spores within engineered scaffolds for extended competitive functionality. The versatility and scalability of digital light processing (DLP) based bioprinting offers significant potential for tailored designs and high-throughput manufacturing, with potential applications in areas such as biomedical packaging, environmental sanitation, construction materials, and surface coatings.