Viscoelasticity of biofilms and their recalcitrance to mechanical and chemical challenges.
We summarize different studies describing mechanisms through which bacteria in a biofilm mode of growth resist mechanical and chemical challenges. Acknowledging previous microscopic work describing voids and channels in biofilms that govern a biofilms response to such challenges, we advocate a more quantitative approach that builds on the relation between structure and composition of materials with their viscoelastic properties. Biofilms possess features of both viscoelastic solids and liquids, like skin or blood, and stress relaxation of biofilms has been found to be a corollary of their structure and composition, including the EPS matrix and bacterial interactions. Review of the literature on viscoelastic properties of biofilms in ancient and modern environments as well as of infectious biofilms reveals that the viscoelastic properties of a biofilm relate with antimicrobial penetration in a biofilm. In addition, also the removal of biofilm from surfaces appears governed by the viscoelasticity of a biofilm. Herewith, it is established that the viscoelasticity of biofilms, as a corollary of structure and composition, performs a role in their protection against mechanical and chemical challenges. Pathways are discussed to make biofilms more susceptible to antimicrobials by intervening with their viscoelasticity, as a quantifiable expression of their structure and composition.
University of Groningen and University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Antonius Deusinglaan 1, 9713 AV Groningen, The Netherlands.
Brandon W
BW
Peterson
University of Groningen and University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Antonius Deusinglaan 1, 9713 AV Groningen, The Netherlands University of Groningen and University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Orthodontics, Hanzeplein 1, 9700 RB Groningen, The Netherlands.
Yan
Y
He
University of Groningen and University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Orthodontics, Hanzeplein 1, 9700 RB Groningen, The Netherlands.
Yijin
Y
Ren
Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Stevens Institute of Technology, Hoboken, NJ 07030, Hoboken, New Jersey, USA.
Aidan
A
Zerdoum
Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Stevens Institute of Technology, Hoboken, NJ 07030, Hoboken, New Jersey, USA.
Matthew R
MR
Libera
University of Groningen and University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Antonius Deusinglaan 1, 9713 AV Groningen, The Netherlands.
Prashant K
PK
Sharma
University of Groningen and University Medical Center Groningen, Center for Dentistry and Oral Hygiene, Anatonius Deusinglaan 1, 9713 AV Groningen, The Netherlands University of Groningen and University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Medical Microbiology, Hanzeplein 1, 9700 RB, Groningen, The Netherlands.
Arie-Jan
AJ
van Winkelhoff
University of Groningen and University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Antonius Deusinglaan 1, 9713 AV Groningen, The Netherlands.
Danielle
D
Neut
Departments of Microbial Infection and Immunity and Orthopedics, Center for Microbial Interface Biology, The Ohio State University, 460 West 12th Avenue, Columbus, OH 43210, USA National Centre for Advanced Tribology at Southampton (nCATS), Engineering Sciences, University of Southampton, SO17 1BJ, UK.
Paul
P
Stoodley
University of Groningen and University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Antonius Deusinglaan 1, 9713 AV Groningen, The Netherlands h.c.van.der.mei@umcg.nl.
Henny C
HC
van der Mei
University of Groningen and University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Antonius Deusinglaan 1, 9713 AV Groningen, The Netherlands.
Henk J
HJ
Busscher
D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D018441:Biofilms / Q000187:drug effects; D004783:Environmental Microbiology; D050296:Microbial Viability; D014783:Viscosity / Q000187:drug effects
D000890:Anti-Infective Agents
antimicrobial penetration; biofilm; detachment; extracellular polymeric substances (EPS); structure; viscoelasticity