Printed paper-based arrays as substrates for biofilm formation

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Materials Science
• Surface Science

Background:

• Studying bacterial biofilms is crucial for understanding infections and developing treatments.
• Paper-based platforms offer a potentially low-cost and accessible method for microbial studies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of paper-based arrays for investigating Staphylococcus aureus biofilm formation.
• To determine how substrate physicochemical properties influence bacterial adhesion and biofilm development.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of paper-based arrays using polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) ink on coated papers.
• Quantification of bacterial concentration using colony-forming unit (CFU/cm²) counts.
• Assessment of biofilm structure and coverage via atomic force microscopy (AFM).

Main Results:

• Bacterial adhesion and biofilm formation were significantly higher on unprinted paper areas compared to PDMS-printed regions.
• Highly polar paper substrates supported greater bacterial concentration and more organized biofilms.
• Low polarity and rough paper surfaces inhibited biofilm formation.
• Biofilms on polar substrates were effectively removed using (+)-dehydroabietic acid.

Conclusions:

• Paper-based arrays are suitable substrates for Staphylococcus aureus biofilm studies.
• Surface polarity and roughness are critical factors influencing biofilm formation on paper.
• The developed platform and findings provide insights for anti-biofilm strategies.