Protocol for Biofilm Streamer Formation in a Microfluidic Device with Micro-pillars |
| |
| Authors: | Mahtab Hassanpourfard Xiaohui Sun Amin Valiei Partha Mukherjee Thomas Thundat Yang Liu Aloke Kumar |
| |
| Institution: | 1.Department of Chemical and Material Engineering, University of Alberta;2.Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Alberta;3.Department of Mechanical Engineering, Texas A&M University;4.Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Alberta |
| |
| Abstract: | Several bacterial species possess the ability to attach to surfaces and colonize them in the form of thin films called biofilms. Biofilms that grow in porous media are relevant to several industrial and environmental processes such as wastewater treatment and CO2 sequestration. We used Pseudomonas fluorescens, a Gram-negative aerobic bacterium, to investigate biofilm formation in a microfluidic device that mimics porous media. The microfluidic device consists of an array of micro-posts, which were fabricated using soft-lithography. Subsequently, biofilm formation in these devices with flow was investigated and we demonstrate the formation of filamentous biofilms known as streamers in our device. The detailed protocols for fabrication and assembly of microfluidic device are provided here along with the bacterial culture protocols. Detailed procedures for experimentation with the microfluidic device are also presented along with representative results. |
| |
| Keywords: | Bioengineering Issue 90 biofilm streamers microfluidics bio-microfluidics porous media bacteria micro-pillars |
|
