Microfluidic Studies of Biofilm Formation in Dynamic Environments

Abstract

bThe advent of microscale technologies, such as microfluidics, has revolutionized many areas of biology yet has only recently begun to impact the field of bacterial biofilms. By enabling accurate control and manipulation of physical and chemical conditions, these new microscale approaches afford the ability to combine important features of natural and artificial microbial habitats, such as fluid flow and ephemeral nutrient sources, with an unprecedented level of flexibility and quantification. Here, we review selected case studies to exemplify this potential, discuss limitations, and suggest that this approach opens new vistas into biofilm research over traditional setups, allowing us to expand our understanding of the formation and consequences of biofilms in a broad range of environments and applications.

Methods Used for the Eradication of Staphylococcal Biofilms

“…Some studies indicate that it is not the growth conditions themselves but rather the expression of phenol-soluble modulin (PSM) surfactant peptides that is the key structuring factor for S. aureus and may be pivotal for biofilm strength and thickness [113]. On the other hand, Kim et al have found that fluid flow represses the internal signaling (quorum sensing) of S. aureus, which can be associated with the elution of signaling molecules [114,115]. Nevertheless, several methods based on continuous flow have been introduced [116,117].…”

Contribution of Pore-Scale Approach to Macroscale Geofluids Modelling in Porous Media

“…Such a strong interaction between biological processes and microfluidics is very far from being understood. Insights for a deeper comprehension of the mechanisms (mechanical and biological) involved in the biofilm growth can arise from a multidisciplinary approach involving (1) laboratory microfluidic experiments under flow controlled conditions [10], (2) noninvasive imaging methods for assessing the biomass evolution [11], and (3) 3D numerical models [12] coupling biofilm growth and pore-scale fluid dynamics models [13].…”

Flow-induced symmetry breaking in growing bacterial biofilms

“…Later in development, flow provides nutrients to surface-attached biofilm communities, removes metabolic waste products and affects quorum sensing molecules [8][9][10]. There is therefore intense practical and theoretical interest in understanding the interaction between biofilms and external flow fields [8,11]. Identifying the multi-scale dynamics of such growth-active nematics under the influence of shear will be helpful when adapting current theories for active matter [12,13] to describe and predict bacterial biofilm growth across model systems and species [14,15].…”