Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10216/103578
Author(s): Joana Barros
Liliana Grenho
Cândida M. Manuel
Carla Ferreira
Luís F. Melo
Olga C. Nunes
Fernando J. Monteiro
Maria P. Ferraz
Title: A modular reactor to simulate biofilm development in orthopedic materials
Issue Date: 2013
Abstract: Surfaces of medical implants are generally designed to encourage soft- and/or hard-tissue adherence, eventually leading to tissue- or osseo-integration. Unfortunately, this feature may also encourage bacterial adhesion and biofilm formation. To understand the mechanisms of bone tissue infection associated with contaminated biomaterials, a detailed understanding of bacterial adhesion and subsequent biofilm formation on biomaterial surfaces is needed. In this study, a continuous-flow modular reactor composed of several modular units placed in parallel was designed to evaluate the activity of circulating bacterial suspensions and thus their predilection for biofilm formation during 72 h of incubation. Hydroxyapatite discs were placed in each modular unit and then removed at fixed times to quantify biofilm accumulation. Biofilm formation on each replicate of material, unchanged in structure, morphology, or cell density, was reproducibly observed. The modular reactor therefore proved to be a useful tool for following mature biofilm formation on different surfaces and under conditions similar to those prevailing near human-bone implants.
Subject: Ciências Naturais, Ciências biológicas
Natural sciences, Biological sciences
Scientific areas: Ciências exactas e naturais::Ciências biológicas
Natural sciences::Biological sciences
URI: https://hdl.handle.net/10216/103578
Related Information: info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/FCT - Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia/Projectos de I&DT em Todos os Domínios Científicos/PTDC/SAU-BMA/111233/2009/NaNOBiofilm - Superfícies de nanohidroxiapatite com caracteristicas antiobacterianas para prevenção de infecção óssea associada a biofilmes/NaNOBiofilm
Document Type: Artigo em Revista Científica Internacional
Rights: restrictedAccess
Appears in Collections:FEUP - Artigo em Revista Científica Internacional

Files in This Item:
File Description SizeFormat 
93607.pdf
  Restricted Access
Artigo original publicado390.8 kBAdobe PDF    Request a copy from the Author(s)


Items in DSpace are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.