Viscoelasticity of biofilms and their recalcitrance to mechanical and chemical challenges

Brandon W. Peterson, Yan He, Yijin Ren, Aidan Zerdoum, Matthew R. Libera, Prashant K. Sharma, Arie-Jan van Winkelhoff, Danielle Neut, Paul Stoodley, Henny C. van der Mei*, Henk J. Busscher

*Corresponding author voor dit werk

Onderzoeksoutputpeer review

240 Citaten (Scopus)
545 Downloads (Pure)

Samenvatting

We summarize different studies describing mechanisms through which bacteria in a biofilm mode of growth resist mechanical and chemical challenges. Acknowledging previous microscopic work describing voids and channels in biofilms that govern a biofilms response to such challenges, we advocate a more quantitative approach that builds on the relation between structure and composition of materials with their viscoelastic properties. Biofilms possess features of both viscoelastic solids and liquids, like skin or blood, and stress relaxation of biofilms has been found to be a corollary of their structure and composition, including the EPS matrix and bacterial interactions. Review of the literature on viscoelastic properties of biofilms in ancient and modern environments as well as of infectious biofilms reveals that the viscoelastic properties of a biofilm relate with antimicrobial penetration in a biofilm. In addition, also the removal of biofilm from surfaces appears governed by the viscoelasticity of a biofilm. Herewith, it is established that the viscoelasticity of biofilms, as a corollary of structure and composition, performs a role in their protection against mechanical and chemical challenges. Pathways are discussed to make biofilms more susceptible to antimicrobials by intervening with their viscoelasticity, as a quantifiable expression of their structure and composition.

Originele taal-2English
Pagina's (van-tot)234-245
Aantal pagina's12
TijdschriftFEMS Microbiology Reviews
Volume39
Nummer van het tijdschrift2
Vroegere onlinedatum3-feb.-2015
DOI's
StatusPublished - mrt.-2015

Vingerafdruk

Duik in de onderzoeksthema's van 'Viscoelasticity of biofilms and their recalcitrance to mechanical and chemical challenges'. Samen vormen ze een unieke vingerafdruk.

Citeer dit