title: Development of a flow system for studying biofilm formation on medical devices with microcalorimetry.
abstract: Isothermal microcalorimetry (IMC) is particularly suited to the study of microbiological samples in complex or heterogeneous environments because it does not require optical clarity of the sample and can detect metabolic activity from as few as 10(4) CFU/mL cells. While the use of IMC for studying planktonic cultures is well established, in the clinical environment bacteria are most likely to be present as biofilms. Biofilm prevention and eradication present a number of challenges to designers and users of medical devices and implants, since bacteria in biofilm colonies are usually more resistant to antimicrobial agents. Analytical tools that facilitate investigation of biofilm formation are therefore extremely useful. While it is possible to study pre-prepared biofilms in closed ampoules, better correlation with in vivo behaviour can be achieved using a system in which the bacterial suspension is flowing. Here, we discuss the potential of flow microcalorimetry for studying biofilms and report the development of a simple flow system that can be housed in a microcalorimeter. The use of the flow system is demonstrated with biofilms of Staphylococcus aureus.
authors.affiliation: UCL School of Pharmacy, University College London, 29-39 Brunswick Square, London WC1N 1AX, UK. Electronic address: jawal.said.11@ucl.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Jawal
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Said
authors.affiliation: ConvaTec GDC, First Avenue, Deeside Industrial Park, Deeside, Flintshire CH5 2NU, UK.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Walker
authors.affiliation: ConvaTec GDC, First Avenue, Deeside Industrial Park, Deeside, Flintshire CH5 2NU, UK.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Parsons
authors.affiliation: UCL School of Pharmacy, University College London, 29-39 Brunswick Square, London WC1N 1AX, UK.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Stapleton
authors.affiliation: UCL School of Pharmacy, University College London, 29-39 Brunswick Square, London WC1N 1AX, UK.
authors.forename: Anthony E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Beezer
authors.affiliation: UCL School of Pharmacy, University College London, 29-39 Brunswick Square, London WC1N 1AX, UK. Electronic address: s.gaisford@ucl.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gaisford
mesh_terms: D018441:Biofilms / Q000254:growth & development*; D002151:Calorimetry / Q000379:methods*; D004864:Equipment and Supplies / Q000382:microbiology*; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure
keywords: Biofilm; Flow calorimetry; Isothermal microcalorimetry; Medical devices; Staphylococcus aureus