Nano/Microscale Order Affects the Early Stages of Biofilm Formation on Metal Surfaces

• Published in: Langmuir Vol. 23; no. 22; pp. 11206 - 11210
• Main Authors: Díaz, C, Schilardi, P. L, Salvarezza, R. C, Fernández Lorenzo de Mele, M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC American Chemical Society 23.10.2007
• Subjects: Bacterial Adhesion - physiology; Biofilms - growth & development; Chemistry; Colloidal state and disperse state; Exact sciences and technology; General and physical chemistry; Gold; Microscopy, Atomic Force; Nanotechnology; Pseudomonas fluorescens - physiology; Surface physical chemistry; Surface Properties; Gold; Transition metal; Nanostructure; Orientation; Adhesion; Design; Substrate; Soils; Filter; Morphology; Aggregate; Microstructure; Structure
• ISSN: 0743-7463; 1520-5827
• DOI: 10.1021/la700650q

The adhesion of Pseudomonas fluorescens was studied on nano/microengineered surfaces. Results show that these bacteria formed well-defined aggregates on randomly oriented nanosized granular gold substrates. These aggregates consist of aligned ensembles of bacteria, with some of them strongly elongated. This kind of biological structure was not found on ordered engineered surfaces because bacterial alignment and cell-to-cell sticking were hindered. Importantly, differences in cell morphology, length, orientation, and flagellation were observed between bacteria attached on the ordered nano/microstructures and the randomly ordered surfaces. The implications of the results are related to the design of engineered surfaces to enhance (nanostructured filters) or inhibit (medical implants and industrial biofouling) bacterial colonization on the surfaces and to the biocontrol of soil ecosystems.