title: Low-load compression testing: a novel way of measuring biofilm thickness.
abstract: Biofilms are complex and dynamic communities of microorganisms that are studied in many fields due to their abundance and economic impact. Biofilm thickness is an important parameter in biofilm characterization. Current methods of measuring biofilm thicknesses have several limitations, including application, availability, and costs. Here, we present low-load compression testing (LLCT) as a new method for measuring biofilm thickness. With LLCT, biofilm thicknesses are measured during compression by inducing small loads, up to 5 Pa, corresponding to 0.1% deformation, making LLCT essentially a nondestructive technique. Comparison of the thicknesses of various bacterial and yeasts biofilms obtained by LLCT and by using confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) resulted in the conclusion that CLSM underestimates the biofilm thickness due to poor penetration of different fluorescent dyes, especially through the thicker biofilms, whereas LLCT does not suffer from this thickness limitation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering (Sector F), University Medical Center Groningen and University of Groningen, PO Box 196, 9700 AD Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Ekaterina
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Paramonova
authors.forename: Ed D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: de Jong
authors.forename: Bastiaan P
authors.initials: BP
authors.lastname: Krom
authors.forename: Henny C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: van der Mei
authors.forename: Henk J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Busscher
authors.forename: Prashant K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Sharma
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000166:cytology*; D018441:Biofilms / Q000254:growth & development*; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D008828:Microbiological Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D015003:Yeasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D005456:Fluorescent Dyes