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Time‐resolved biofilm deformation measurements using optical coherence tomography
Author(s) -
Blauert Florian,
Horn Harald,
Wagner Michael
Publication year - 2015
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.25590
Subject(s) - biofilm , rheology , viscoelasticity , deformation (meteorology) , materials science , shear modulus , shear (geology) , shear stress , composite material , geology , bacteria , paleontology
The interaction of shear stress with the biofilm leads to a dynamic deformation, which is related to the structural and material characteristics of biofilms. We show how optical coherence tomography can be used as an imaging technique to investigate the time‐resolved deformation on the biofilm mesoscale as well as to estimate mechanical properties of the biofilm. For the first time time‐resolved deformation from cross‐sectional views of the inner biofilm structure could be shown. Changes in the biofilm structure and rheological properties were calculated from cross sections in real‐time and time‐lapsed measurements. Heterotrophic biofilms were grown in a flow cell set‐up at low shear stress of τ w = 0.01 Pa. By applying higher shear stress elastic and viscoelastic behavior of biofilms were quantified. Deformation led to a change in biofilm conformation and allowed to estimate rheological properties. Assuming an ideal wall shear stress calculation, the shear modulus G = 29.7 ± 1.7 Pa and the Young's modulus E = 36.0 ± 2.6 Pa were estimated. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2015;112: 1893–1905. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.