**3.7 Interaction between microbeads and microorganisms**

In this chapter, bacteria behavior is studied in the presence of microspheres. Specifically, the interaction between microspheres and bacteria in vitro is studied. With the ultimate aim of these micro-containers being introduced into cement as carriers of bacteria, it is necessary to study whether polymer spheres are toxic to humans and bacteria. Of the five types of polymeric microspheres compositional (a) water traps, (b) coated water traps with SiO2, (c) SiO2 microspheres, and (d) PMMA microspheres for their interaction with bacteria were studied. The fifth type of polymeric micro-cell, polyuria shell micro-containers, needs further optimization before any coupling with a microorganism. Following this work, it is studied whether microns affect the ureolytic action of bacteria for CaCO3 submersion. In other words, it is being studied whether the bacteria are still capable of submerging the mineral after contact with the microcontainers (**Figure 16**).

### **Figure 16.** *HEK-293 cell vitality rates, presence of microspheres at various concentrations.*
