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Updated: Jul 14, 2026
Use of a High-throughput In Vitro Microfluidic System to Develop Oral Multi-species Biofilms
Published on: December 1, 2014
High frequency ultrasound imaging of a single-species biofilm
H Shemesh1, D E Goertz, L W M van der Sluis
1Department of Cariology Endodontology Pedodontology, Academic Centre for Dentistry Amsterdam (ACTA), Louwesweg 1, 1066 EA Amsterdam, The Netherlands. hshemesh@acta.nl
Objective:
This study evaluated the feasibility of a high frequency ultrasound scan to examine the 3D morphology of Streptococcus mutans biofilms grown in vitro.
Methods:
Six 2-day S. mutans biofilms and six 7-day biofilms were grown on tissue culture membranes and on bovine dentine discs. A sterile growth medium on the membrane and disc were used as controls. Surfaces were rinsed and then immersed in sterile saline. High-frequency ultrasound imaging system was used to scan these surfaces at 55MHz, and a computer program calculated the average thickness of the biofilm layer from the 3D images.
Results:
3D pictures of the biofilm layers were obtained. Different cross-sections and plains are easily demonstrated. The average thickness of the 7-day biofilm was significantly bigger than the 2-day on both the membranes and dentinal discs. No structures were observed on the sterile membrane or disc.
Conclusion:
Three-dimensional structural imaging in situ is possible without damaging the biofilm layer in a quick and easy manner and can therefore be used to evaluate biofilms longitudinally as a function of time.
