title: In vitro laser ablation of natural marine biofilms.
abstract: We studied the efficiency of pulsed low-power laser irradiation of 532 nm from an Nd:YAG (neodymium-doped yttrium-aluminum-garnet) laser to remove marine biofilm developed on titanium and glass coupons. Natural biofilms with thicknesses of 79.4 +/- 27.8 microm (titanium) and 107.4 +/- 28.5 microm (glass) were completely disrupted by 30 s of laser irradiation (fluence, 0.1 J/cm2). Laser irradiation significantly reduced the number of diatoms and bacteria in the biofilm (paired t test; P < 0.05). The removal was better on titanium than on glass coupons.
authors.affiliation: Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research, University of Windsor, Ontario, Canada. nandakumar.kanavillil@lakeheadu.ca
authors.forename: Kanavillil
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nandakumar
authors.forename: Hideki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Obika
authors.forename: Akihiro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Utsumi
authors.forename: Toshihiko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ooie
authors.forename: Tetsuo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yano
mesh_terms: D000535:Aluminum; D018441:Biofilms / Q000254:growth & development / Q000528:radiation effects*; D017377:Diatoms / Q000254:growth & development / Q000528:radiation effects*; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D005898:Glass; D007834:Lasers; D009354:Neodymium; D031161:Pseudoalteromonas / Q000254:growth & development / Q000528:radiation effects*; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D012623:Seawater / Q000382:microbiology; D014025:Titanium; D015019:Yttrium
chemical_list: D009354:Neodymium; D015019:Yttrium; D000535:Aluminum; D014025:Titanium