Ingenieurwissenschaften und zugeordnete Tätigkeiten
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- Biofilm (4) (entfernen)
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Biofilms are ubiquitous in nature and in the man-made environment. Given their harmful effects on human health, an in-depth understanding of biofilms and the monitoring of their formation and growth are important. Particularly relevant for many metabolic processes and survival strategies of biofilms is their extracellular pH. However, most conventional techniques are not suited for minimally invasive pH measurements of living biofilms. Here, a fluorescent nanosensor is presented for ratiometric measurements of pH in biofilms in the range of pH 4.5–9.5 using confocal laser scanning microscopy. The nanosensor consists of biocompatible polystyrene nanoparticles loaded with pH-inert dye Nile Red and is surface functionalized with a pH-responsive fluorescein dye. Its performance was validated by fluorometrically monitoring the time-dependent changes in pH in E. coli biofilms after glucose inoculation at 37 °C and 4 °C. This revealed a temperature-dependent decrease in pH over a 4-h period caused by the acidifying glucose metabolism of E. coli. These studies demonstrate the applicability of this nanosensor to characterize the chemical microenvironment in biofilms with fluorescence methods.
Here, we present a study on agarose thin-film samples that represent a model system for the exopolysaccharide matrix of biofilms. Povidone-iodide (PVP-I) was selected as an antibacterial agent to evaluate our x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS)-based methodology to trace specific marker elements, here iodine, commonly found in organic matrices of antibiotics. The in-depth distribution of iodine was determined by XPS analyses with variable excitation energies and in combination with argon gas cluster ion beam sputter cycles. On mixed agarose/PVP-I nanometer-thin films, both methods were found to solve the analytical task and deliver independently comparable results. In the mixed agarose/PVP-I thin film, we found the outermost surface layer depleted in iodine, whereas the iodine is homogeneously distributed in the depth region between this outermost surface layer and the interface between the thin film and the substrate. Depletion of iodine from the uppermost surface in the thin-film samples is assumed to be caused by ultrahigh vacuum exposure resulting in a loss of molecular iodine (I2) as reported earlier for other iodine-doped polymers.
In recent years, the demand for new and sustainable products has been constantly rising. Especially cementitious materials are known for their high carbon footprint and novel approaches will be needed to counterbalance that. The BAM departments 7.1 (building materials) and 4.0 (Material and the environment) try to improve the sustainability of concrete panels by establishing a biofilm on the weather protection layer. Using an ultra-high-performance-concrete allows the production of very thin facade tiles with a small carbon footprint. Furthermore, the durability of these tiles is expected to surpass the one of “normal” concrete facades and offer the possibility of modular renewing of defective tiles instead of a wall, or even remodeling a whole building. The controlled application of biofilms on facades aims to improve biodiversity, microclimate, and air quality in cities. Furthermore, the greening of typically gray surfaces could improve the mental health of the residents. The project focuses on testing a multiplicity of concrete samples, varying e.g., in roughness or pH. The bioreceptivity is analyzed via laboratory tests, as well as in perennial outdoor experiments.