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Biomicrofluidics / Volume 6 / Issue 4 / REGULAR ARTICLES

Biomicrofluidics 6, 044114 (2012); http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.4771407 (9 pages)

Bacterial aggregation and biofilm formation in a vortical flow

Shahrzad Yazdi1 and Arezoo M. Ardekani2

1Department of Chemical Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, USA
2Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556, USA

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(Received 25 September 2012; accepted 27 November 2012; published online 12 December 2012)

Bacterial aggregation and patchiness play an important role in a variety of ecological processes such as competition, adaptation, epidemics, and succession. Here, we demonstrate that hydrodynamics of their environment can lead to their aggregation. This is specially important since microbial habitats are rarely at rest (e.g., ocean, blood stream, flow in porous media, and flow through membrane filtration processes). In order to study the dynamics of bacterial collection in a vortical flow, we utilize a microfluidic system to mimic some of the important microbial conditions at ecologically relevant spatiotemporal scales. We experimentally demonstrate the formation of “ring”-shaped bacterial collection patterns and subsequently the formation of biofilm streamers in a microfluidic system. Acoustic streaming of a microbubble is used to generate a vortical flow in a microchannel. Due to bacteria's finite-size, the microorganisms are directed to closed streamlines and trapped in the vortical flow. The collection of bacteria in the vortices occurs in a matter of seconds, and unexpectedly, triggers the formation of biofilm streamers within minutes. Swimming bacteria have a competitive advantage to respond to their environmental conditions. In order to investigate the role of bacterial motility on the rate of collection, two strains of Escherichia coli bacteria with different motilities are used. We show that the bacterial collection in a vortical flow is strongly pronounced for high motile bacteria.

© 2012 American Institute of Physics

Article Outline

  1. INTRODUCTION
  2. MATERIAL AND METHODS
    1. Microfluidic experimental setup
    2. Bacterial strains and growth conditions
  3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
    1. Bacterial collection in the vortex
    2. Bacterial aggregation and biofilm formation
  4. CONCLUSIONS

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KEYWORDS, PACS, and IPC

Keywords

acoustic streaming, aggregation, biomechanics, biomembranes, bubbles, cell motility, epidemics, filtration, flow through porous media, microchannel flow, microorganisms, spatiotemporal phenomena, vortices

PACS

  • 87.18.Ed

    Cell aggregation

  • 87.18.Hf

    Spatiotemporal pattern formation in cellular populations

  • 47.60.Dx

    Flows in ducts and channels

  • 87.17.Rt

    Cell adhesion and cell mechanics

  • 87.18.Fx

    Multicellular phenomena, biofilms

  • 87.17.Jj

    Cell locomotion, chemotaxis

International Patent Classification (IPC)

  • B01D37/00

    Processes of filtration

  • F15D

    Fluid dynamics, i.e. methods or means for influencing the flow of gases or liquids

ARTICLE DATA

Digital Object Identifier
http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.4771407

PUBLICATION DATA

ISSN

1932-1058 (online)

Publisher

$abstract.society.value is a Member of CrossRef American Institute of Physics

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    References

    T. Kim, I. Doh, and Y. H. Cho, “On-chip three-dimensional tumor spheroid formation and pump-less perfusion culture using gravity-driven cell aggregation and balanced droplet dispensing,” Biomicrofluidics 6, 034107 (2012)BIOMGB000006000003034107000001.

    L. Y. Yeo, D. Hou, S. Maheshswari, and H. C. Chang, “Electrohydrodynamic surface microvortices for mixing and particle trapping,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 88(23), 233512 (2006)APPLAB000088000023233512000001.

    D. S. W. Lim, J. P. Shelby, J. S. Kuo, and D. T. Chiu, “Dynamic formation of ring-shaped patterns of colloidal particles in microfluidic systems,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 83(6), 1145–1147 (2003)APPLAB000083000006001145000001.

    H. Ota, T. Kodama, and N. Miki, “Rapid formation of size-controlled three dimensional hetero-cell aggregates using micro-rotation flow for spheroid study,” Biomicrofluidics 5(3), 034105 (2011)BIOMGB000005000003034105000001.

    S. C. Hur, A. J. Mach, and D. Di Carlo, “High-throughput size-based rare cell enrichment using microscale vortices,” Biomicrofluidics 5, 022206 (2011)BIOMGB000005000002022206000001.

    D. Hou, S. Maheshwari, and H. C. Chang, “Rapid bioparticle concentration and detection by combining a discharge driven vortex with surface enhanced Raman scattering,” Biomicrofluidics 1, 014106 (2007)BIOMGB000001000001014106000001.

    C. Wang, S. V. Jalikop, and S. Hilgenfeldt, “Efficient manipulation of microparticles in bubble streaming flows,” Biomicrofluidics 6(1), 012801 (2012)BIOMGB000006000001012801000001.


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