Valeriya Frolova

Ms. Valeriya Frolova


Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

2Years (2025-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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20 November 2025 in Gels
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
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ЕФЕкатерина Филиппова
Екатерина Филиппова
AZAnton Zvonarev
Anton Zvonarev
VTVasily Terentyev
Vasily Terentyev
FVFarofonova Vasilina
Farofonova Vasilina
VFValeriya Frolova
Valeriya Frolova
DLDaria Lavrova
Daria Lavrova
For the first time, hydrogels based on silica- and titanium-poly(ethylene glycol) have been used for immobilization of Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli MG1655) and Gram-positive bacteria (Rhodococcus qingshengii X5) in a one-step sol–gel synthesis. Vibrational spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis have confirmed the formation of amorphous hybrid structures with a predominance of organic components and metal-oxide grids. Encapsulation efficiencies were 72–77% for Si-PEG-based hydrogel and 50–54% for Ti-PEG. Antimicrobial activity tests revealed that Si-PEG was non-toxic, while Ti-PEG reduced cell viability by 50%. For the first time, an analysis of the morphological properties of immobilized bacterial cells revealed the formation of a thin Si-PEG-based hydrogel shell around each cell and a thick polymer layer on the bacterial surface when encapsulated within Ti-PEG-based hydrogels. The catalytic activity of the biocatalysts, as measured by the ATP content, remained at 84–93% for Si-PEG-based hydrogel, and decreased to 5% for Ti-PEG-based hydrogel. Biocatalysts based on encapsulated bacteria in a Si-PEG-based hydrogel demonstrate high sensitivity and stability. Si-PEG-based hydrogel exhibits high biocompatibility, making it suitable for the effective encapsulation of various bacterial types with a “cell-in-shell” structure.