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Electric field induced desorption of bacteria from a conditioning film covered substratum
Author(s) -
Poortinga Albert T.,
Smit Jelly,
van der Mei Henny C.,
Busscher Henk J.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
biotechnology and bioengineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.136
H-Index - 189
eISSN - 1097-0290
pISSN - 0006-3592
DOI - 10.1002/bit.10129
Subject(s) - desorption , electric field , electrokinetic phenomena , perpendicular , suspension (topology) , chemistry , electrode , electric current , adhesion , electrophoresis , direct current , chemical engineering , analytical chemistry (journal) , materials science , composite material , chromatography , nanotechnology , voltage , adsorption , organic chemistry , physics , geometry , mathematics , quantum mechanics , homotopy , pure mathematics , engineering
Desorption of three oral bacterial strains from a salivary conditioning film on an indium tin oxide electrode during application of a positive (bacterial adhesion to the anode) or a negative electric current was studied in a parallel plate flow chamber. Bacterial adhesion was from a flowing suspension of high ionic strength, after which the bacterial suspension was replaced by a low ionic strength solution without bacteria and currents ranging from −800 to +800 μA were applied. Streptococcus oralis J22 desorbed during application of a positive and negative electric current with a desorption probability that increased with increasing electric current. Two actinomyces strains, however, could not be stimulated to desorb by the electric currents applied. The desorption forces acting on adhering bacteria are electroosmotic in origin and working parallel to the electrode surface in case of a positive current, whereas they are electrophoretic and electrostatic in origin and working perpendicular to the surface in case of a negative current. By comparison of the effect of positive and negative electric currents, it can be concluded that parallel forces are more effective in stimulating bacterial desorption than perpendicular forces. The results of this study point to a new pathway of cleaning industrial and biomedical surfaces without the use of detergents or biocides. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Biotechnol Bioeng 76: 395–399, 2001.