Monitoring of microbial adhesion and biofilm growth using electrochemical impedancemetry

• Published in: Applied microbiology and biotechnology 2008-05, Vol.79 (1), p.157-164
• Main Authors: Dheilly, A, Linossier, I, Darchen, A, Hadjiev, D, Corbel, C, Alonso, V
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adhesion; AISI 304; Bacillus subtilis; Bacillus subtilis - growth & development; Bacteria; Bacterial Adhesion; Bacteriological methods and techniques used in bacteriology; Bacteriology; Biofilm thickness; Biofilms; Biofilms - growth & development; Biological and medical sciences; Biotechnology; Cell growth; Cells; confocal scanning laser microscopy; Contact angle; Corrosion; Electric Impedance; Electrochemical impedance; Electrochemistry; Electrodes; Energy; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; Impedance; Lasers; Life Sciences; Metals; Methods; Microbial adhesion; Microbial Genetics and Genomics; Microbiology; Microscopy, Confocal; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; Noise; physicochemical properties; Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Pseudomonas aeruginosa - growth & development; Scanning electron microscopy; Stainless Steel - analysis; Standard deviation; Studies; Surface Properties
• ISSN: 0175-7598; 1432-0614
• DOI: 10.1007/s00253-008-1404-7

Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy was tested to monitor the cell attachment and the biofilm proliferation in order to identify characteristic events induced on the metal surface by Gram-negative (Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1) and Gram-positive (Bacillus subtilis) bacteria strains. Electrochemical impedance spectra of AISI 304 electrodes during cell attachment and initial biofilm growth for both strains were obtained. It can be observed that the resistance increases gradually with the culture time and decreases with the biofilm detachment. So, the applicability of electric cell-substrate impedance sensing (ECIS) for studying the attachment and spreading of cells on a metal surface has been demonstrated. The biofilm formation was also characterized by the use of scanning electron microscopy and confocal laser scanning microscopy and COMSTAT image analysis. The electrochemical results roughly agree with the microscope image observations. The ECIS technique used in this study was used for continuous real-time monitoring of the initial bacterial adhesion and the biofilm growth. It provides a simple and non-expensive electrochemical method for in vitro assessment of the presence of biofilms on metal surfaces.