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Measurements Solutions for BioFilm - Manufacturing, Other
Biofilm research is on-going as laboratories in multiple disciplines from life science to industrial processing search for answers on colony structure, resistance to antibiotics and chemicals, how they are secured to the surface via a biopolymer-rich matrix, and their ability to survive rigorous environmental stressors. Efforts to prevent their initial formation are part of this search as well.
Researchers must understand biofilm characteristics in order to move forward with any of these initiatives. Biofilms are not a recent discovery. In the 1600’s, Antonie van Leeuwenhoek, using a rudimentary microscope, observed microorganisms that were “clumped” together as opposed to floating freely. While the discovery of the phenomenon dates to the 17th century, it was not until the late 1970’s that these colonies acquired the name biofilm. They have been studied ever since.
Biofilm Measurement with the ZeGageTM Pro
In a recent collaboration with a major university’s bioengineering lab, Zygo put its ZeGageTM Pro, with sub-nanometer measurement noise to the test, using it to successfully evaluate a variety of biofilm characteristics. This represents a major departure from the traditional use of other optical profilometry techniques to measure biofilms.
For the testing, no special sample preparation was required—no dyes or staining, and the ZeGage was situated within the lab requiring no stringent environmental operating conditions. The living biofilm samples were not damaged or adversely affected either because the ZeGage is non-contact, and the full area measurement was made quickly. Measurement speed eliminates one of the common problems of sample evaporation with prolonged measurement times.
- Vertical height of the microbial colony: This parameter is key to understanding the life cycle of biofilm development.It involves measuring both the cells and the matrix material.
- Timelapse evaluation: Being able to observe growth in real time from inoculation to end of life provided insight into how the biofilm absorbs nutrients and oxygen, grows, interacts with surrounding cells, and is impacted by the surface on which it is located.This can be difficult to do comprehensively with other measurement techniques.
- Surface Topology: This measurement returned values for Sa, Sq, and Sz.Sa and Sq represent an overall measure of the texture comprising the biofilm surface.Sz is the maximum height of the biofilm surface.
- Media substrate interface: This measurement characterized components of the surface on which the biofilm is located.It is important for assessing the height of the colony.
With Zygo’s Mx software, data acquisition and data analysis are included in one package. There is no need to export acquired data to third party image analysis software.
