title: Mechanistic lessons learned from studies of planktonic bacteria with metallic nanomaterials: implications for interactions between nanomaterials and biofilm bacteria.
abstract: Metal and metal-oxide nanoparticles (NPs) are used in numerous applications and have high likelihood of entering engineered and natural environmental systems. Careful assessment of the interaction of these NPs with bacteria, particularly biofilm bacteria, is necessary. This perspective discusses mechanisms of NP interaction with bacteria and identifies challenges in understanding NP-biofilm interaction, considering fundamental material attributes and inherent complexities of biofilm structure. The current literature is reviewed, both for planktonic bacteria and biofilms; future challenges and complexities are identified, both in light of the literature and a dataset on the toxicity of silver NPs toward planktonic and biofilm bacteria. This perspective aims to highlight the complexities in such studies and emphasizes the need for systematic evaluation of NP-biofilm interaction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin Austin, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Navid B
authors.initials: NB
authors.lastname: Saleh
authors.affiliation: Department of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin Austin, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Bryant
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Chambers
authors.affiliation: Department of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin Austin, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Nirupam
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Aich
authors.affiliation: Department of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin Austin, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Jaime
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Plazas-Tuttle
authors.affiliation: Department of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin Austin, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Hanh N
authors.initials: HN
authors.lastname: Phung-Ngoc
authors.affiliation: Department of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin Austin, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Mary Jo
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Kirisits
keywords: EPS; dissolved ion; metal-oxide nanoparticles; physical disruption; reactive oxygen species