title: A novel biofilm channel for evaluating the adhesion of diatoms to non-biocidal coatings.
abstract: Laboratory assessment of the adhesion of diatoms to non-toxic fouling-release coatings has tended to focus on single cells rather than the more complex state of a biofilm. A novel culture system based on open channel flow with adjustable bed shear stress values (0-2.4 Pa) has been used to produce biofilms of Navicula incerta. Biofilm development on glass and polydimethylsiloxane elastomer (PDMSe) showed a biphasic relationship with bed shear stress, which was characterised by regions of biofilm stability and instability reflecting cohesion between cells relative to the adhesion to the substratum. On glass, a critical shear stress of 1.3-1.4 Pa prevented biofilm development, whereas on PDMS, biofilms continued to grow at 2.4 Pa. Studies of diatom biofilms cultured on zwitterionic coatings using a bed shear stress of 0.54 Pa showed lower biomass production and adhesion strength on poly(sulfobetaine methacrylate) compared to poly(carboxybetaine methacrylate). The dynamic biofilm approach provides additional information to supplement short duration laboratory evaluations.
authors.affiliation: School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK. j.a.finlay@bham.ac.uk
authors.forename: John A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Finlay
authors.forename: Michael P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Schultz
authors.forename: Gemma
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cone
authors.forename: Maureen E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Callow
authors.forename: James A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Callow
mesh_terms: D001622:Betaine / Q000737:chemistry; D018441:Biofilms / Q000254:growth & development*; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D017377:Diatoms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000254:growth & development*; D004129:Dimethylpolysiloxanes / Q000737:chemistry; D020724:Elastomers / Q000737:chemistry; D005898:Glass / Q000737:chemistry; D008689:Methacrylates / Q000737:chemistry; D011109:Polymethacrylic Acids / Q000737:chemistry; D000644:Quaternary Ammonium Compounds / Q000737:chemistry; D012623:Seawater / Q000737:chemistry; D033081:Shear Strength; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D004129:Dimethylpolysiloxanes; D020724:Elastomers; D008689:Methacrylates; D011109:Polymethacrylic Acids; D000644:Quaternary Ammonium Compounds; C517178:polycarboxybetaine methacrylate; C521589:sulfobetaine methacrylate polymer; D014867:Water; D001622:Betaine; C013830:baysilon