A Selection of Platforms to Evaluate Surface Adhesion and Biofilm Formation in Controlled Hydrodynamic Conditions

• Type: Another Publication in an International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2021

Authors

Luciana C. Gomes (Author) FEUP; Filipe J. M. Mergulhão (Author) FEUP

Journal

Title: Microorganisms

Vol. 9 No. 9

Pages: 1-34

Publisher: MDPI

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 0 Citations

Scopus - 0 Citations

Associated Projects

Healthy Waters - Healthy Waters - Identification, Elimination, Social Awareness and Education of Water Chemical and Biological Micropollutants with Health and Environmental Implications

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00V-F64

DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9091993

Abstract (EN): The early colonization of surfaces and subsequent biofilm development have severe impacts in environmental, industrial, and biomedical settings since they entail high costs and health risks. To develop more effective biofilm control strategies, there is a need to obtain laboratory biofilms that resemble those found in natural or man-made settings. Since microbial adhesion and biofilm formation are strongly affected by hydrodynamics, the knowledge of flow characteristics in different marine, food processing, and medical device locations is essential. Once the hydrodynamic conditions are known, platforms for cell adhesion and biofilm formation should be selected and operated, in order to obtain reproducible biofilms that mimic those found in target scenarios. This review focuses on the most widely used platforms that enable the study of initial microbial adhesion and biofilm formation under controlled hydrodynamic conditions-modified Robbins devices, flow chambers, rotating biofilm devices, microplates, and microfluidic devices-and where numerical simulations have been used to define relevant flow characteristics, namely the shear stress and shear rate.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 34