A modular reactor to simulate biofilm development in orthopedic materials

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2013

Authors

Joana Barros (Author) FEUP; Liliana Grenho (Author) Other; Cândida M. Manuel (Author) Other; Carla Ferreira (Author) FEUP; Luís F. Melo (Author) FEUP; Olga C. Nunes (Author) FEUP; Fernando J. Monteiro (Author) FEUP; Maria P. Ferraz (Author) Other

Journal

Title: International Microbiology

Vol. 16 No. 3

Pages: 191-198

ISSN: 1139-6709

Publisher: Springer Nature

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 7 Citations

Scopus - 7 Citations

Scientific classification

FOS: Natural sciences > Biological sciences

CORDIS: Natural sciences

Associated Projects

NaNOBiofilm - NaNOBiofilm - Superfícies de nanohidroxiapatite com caracteristicas antiobacterianas para prevenção de infecção óssea associada a biofilmes

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-006-JWB

DOI: 10.2436/20.1501.01.193

Abstract (EN): Surfaces of medical implants are generally designed to encourage soft- and/or hard-tissue adherence, eventually leading to tissue- or osseo-integration. Unfortunately, this feature may also encourage bacterial adhesion and biofilm formation. To understand the mechanisms of bone tissue infection associated with contaminated biomaterials, a detailed understanding of bacterial adhesion and subsequent biofilm formation on biomaterial surfaces is needed. In this study, a continuous-flow modular reactor composed of several modular units placed in parallel was designed to evaluate the activity of circulating bacterial suspensions and thus their predilection for biofilm formation during 72 h of incubation. Hydroxyapatite discs were placed in each modular unit and then removed at fixed times to quantify biofilm accumulation. Biofilm formation on each replicate of material, unchanged in structure, morphology, or cell density, was reproducibly observed. The modular reactor therefore proved to be a useful tool for following mature biofilm formation on different surfaces and under conditions similar to those prevailing near human-bone implants.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 8