Production of an Innovative, Surface Area-Enhanced and Biodegradable Biofilm-Generating Device by 3D Printing

Area of Science:

• Biotechnology and Biomedical Engineering
• Microbiology and Infectious Diseases

Background:

• Biofilm formation is crucial in medical, industrial, and environmental settings.
• Current methods for biofilm study often involve complex procedures or specialized equipment.
• There is a need for user-friendly devices that allow for in-situ observation and manipulation of biofilms.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and characterize a novel 3D-printed device for enhanced biofilm cultivation.
• To evaluate the device's performance with clinically relevant bacterial species.
• To highlight the device's versatility for various biofilm-related research applications.

Main Methods:

• The Enhanced Surface Cylindrical Flask (ESCF) was designed with an eight-striped inner arrangement for 16 microscope slides.
• A window-flap mechanism allows spatula-accessible slide removal without disturbing biofilm.
• The ESCF was 3D printed using biodegradable polylactic acid and tested with *Klebsiella pneumoniae*, *Pseudomonas aeruginosa*, *Staphylococcus aureus*, and *Escherichia coli*.

Main Results:

• Successful cultivation of biofilms from clinically relevant bacteria was achieved within the ESCF.
• Confocal laser scanning microscopy was used to observe the formed biofilms.
• The device demonstrated an enhanced surface area for biofilm growth and compatibility with standard rotary shakers.

Conclusions:

• The 3D-printed ESCF offers a user-friendly and effective platform for biofilm research.
• Its design facilitates easy slide manipulation, environmental control (anoxic/microaerophilic conditions), and in-situ measurements.
• The ESCF holds significant potential for widespread application in medical, industrial, and environmental microbiology.