The relative importance of shear forces and surface hydrophobicity on biofilm formation by coccoid cyanobacteria

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2020-03-12

Authors

Rita Teixeira Santos (Author) FEUP; Sara Isabel Faria (Author) FEUP; Maria João Romeu (Author) FEUP; João Morais (Author) Other; Vitor Vasconcelos (Author) FCUP; Filipe Mergulhão (Author) FEUP

Journal

Title: Polymers

Vol. 12 No. 3

Pages: 1-13

Publisher: MDPI

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 25 Citations

Scopus - 30 Citations

Associated Projects

LEPABE - Projeto Estratégico do LEPABE - Laboratório de Engenharia de Processos, Ambiente, Biotecnologia e Energia

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00R-YRD

DOI: 10.3390/polym12030653

Abstract (EN): Understanding the conditions affecting cyanobacterial biofilm development is crucial to develop new antibiofouling strategies and decrease the economic and environmental impact of biofilms in marine settings. In this study, we investigated the relative importance of shear forces and surface hydrophobicity on biofilm development by two coccoid cyanobacteria with different biofilm formation capacities. The strong biofilm-forming Synechocystis salina was used along with the weaker biofilm-forming Cyanobium sp. Biofilms were developed in defined hydrodynamic conditions using glass (a model hydrophilic surface) and a polymeric epoxy coating (a hydrophobic surface) as substrates. Biofilms developed in both surfaces at lower shear conditions contained a higher number of cells and presented higher values for wet weight, thickness, and chlorophyll a content. The impact of hydrodynamics on biofilm development was generally stronger than the impact of surface hydrophobicity, but a combined effect of these two parameters strongly affected biofilm formation for the weaker biofilm-producing organism. The antibiofilm performance of the polymeric coating was confirmed at the hydrodynamic conditions prevailing in ports. Shear forces were shown to have a profound impact on biofilm development in marine settings regardless of the fouling capacity of the existing flora and the hydrophobicity of the surface. © 2020 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 13