# Efficient Bioremediation of Environmentally Persistent Contaminants with Nanomaterial-Fungus Framework (NFF)

> **NIH NIH R01** · TEXAS A&M AGRILIFE RESEARCH · 2022 · $300,996

## Abstract

Project Summary
The recalcitrant and harmful chemicals such as PFASs (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances),
endangers the environmental, wild-life, and human health profoundly. Among different
strategies, bioremediation was established as an effective and reliable solution for remediating
persistent environmental contaminants like PFASs. Fungi, such as basidiomycetes (i.e. white rot
fungi) are used in bioremediation of PFAS for their strong extracellular biocatalytic capacity with
great promise. However, several factors limit commercial applications: 1) need for nutrient
addition as the carbon source for the microbe; 2) need to immobilize fungus biomass as pellets
to prevent fungus dispersion onto reactor wall; 3) bacterial competition; 4) low efficiency due to
the low chemical availability to the fungal mycelium and slow fungus growth. The proposed
research will address the imminent challenges of remediating persistent and toxic environmental
contaminants using the uniquely designed Nanomaterial-Fungus Framework (NFF). The NFF is
a system that novel nano-materials create a biomimic scaffold where fungus can grow, and the
scaffold enriches trace level contaminants that fungus can degrade. We aim to unveil the
fundamental biodegradation mechanisms of the NFF system, which provides future guidance to
modify and improve the system. The engineered NFF system will offer a novel strategy that
applies toward a broad range of environmental pollutant bioremediation practices.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10320970
- **Project number:** 5R01ES032708-02
- **Recipient organization:** TEXAS A&M AGRILIFE RESEARCH
- **Principal Investigator:** Yuan Dai
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $300,996
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2021-01-01 → 2025-10-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10320970

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10320970, Efficient Bioremediation of Environmentally Persistent Contaminants with Nanomaterial-Fungus Framework (NFF) (5R01ES032708-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10320970. Licensed CC0.

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