Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) revealing chemical variation during biofilm formation: from initial attachment to mature biofilm

• DOI: 10.1007/s00216-012-6225-y
• Publication Date: 2012-07-20T20:28:03Z
• Authors: Yuanqing Chao; Tong Zhang
• Keywords: Matrix (chemical analysis); Pseudomonas putida

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) has recently been proved to be a promising technique for characterizing the chemical composition of biofilm matrix. In present study, fully understand variations during formation, SERS based on silver colloidal nanoparticles was applied evaluate components in matrix at different growth phases, including initial attached bacteria, colonies, and mature biofilm. Meanwhile, atomic force microscopy also study changes morphology. Three model Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas putida, Bacillus subtilis, were used cultivate biofilms. The results showed that content carbohydrates, proteins, nucleic acids increased significantly along with three bacteria judging from intensities appearance probabilities related marker peaks spectra. lipids, however, only Gram-negative biofilms (E. coli P. putida) rather than Gram-positive (B. subtilis). Our findings strongly suggest significant potential studying formation.