Real-time monitoring of the development and stability of biofilms of Streptococcus mutans using the quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring

Quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring (QCM-D) was used for continuous in-situ monitoring of cell attachment and growth of Streptococcus mutans as biofilms. Cell attachment and proliferation were monitored within an overnight period of 20h. Biofilms generated using a ‘continuous flo...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Biosensors & bioelectronics 2007-10, Vol.23 (3), p.407-413
Main Authors: Schofield, Amy L., Rudd, Timothy R., Martin, David.S., Fernig, David G., Edwards, Clive
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biofilms
Biological and medical sciences
Biosensing Techniques - methods
Biotechnology
Dissipation (D)
Elasticity
Frequency (f)
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Microscopy, Atomic Force
QCM-D
Quartz - chemistry
Streptococcus mutans
Streptococcus mutans - physiology
Streptococcus mutans biofilms
Viscosity
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Summary:Quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring (QCM-D) was used for continuous in-situ monitoring of cell attachment and growth of Streptococcus mutans as biofilms. Cell attachment and proliferation were monitored within an overnight period of 20h. Biofilms generated using a ‘continuous flow’ method had a greater mass and were more dissipative (more viscoelastic) than those established using an ‘attach and flow’ strategy. Cell numbers (as colony forming units, c.f.u.) in biofilms formed inside the QCM-D device after a 2-h attachment phase and during a 20-h growth period could be related to frequency (f) changes. The percentage surface coverage on the QCM-D crystals by bacteria was estimated using the surface analysis features of the atomic force microscope and image analysis software. Both mean percentage coverage and c.f.u increased after growth of S. mutans. The energy losses displayed by the increases in the dissipative factor (D) indicated an increase in ‘softness’ of the attached cells. The ratio of D/f was used to provide information of the way in which viscoelasticity changed per unit mass. Flow conditions over the cells on the surface appeared to be important in creating biofilms of a greater complexity and stability and the QCM-D enabled properties of cells during attachment and binding, proliferation and removal to be monitored continuously.
ISSN:0956-5663
1873-4235
DOI:10.1016/j.bios.2007.05.001