Oral Biofilms
Study oral biofilms in biological conditions
The bacteria that make up the flora of the oral cavity have complex relationships within biofilms that contribute to dental caries and disease pathogenesis in the oral cavity and throughout the body. To study such relationships among bacteria, it is necessary to inoculate and culture the cells under shear flow.
The BioFlux shear flow system enables high-throughput investigation of oral biofilms and antibiofilm treatments under biological conditions.
BioFlux oral biofilm general workflow
Oral biofilm imaging using BioFlux
Interspecies competition in oral biofilms mediated by Streptococcus gordonii extracellular deoxyribonuclease SsnA
Real-time inhibition of a mixed-species microcosm biofilm by NucB under saliva flow. 24-well BioFlux plates were used to create a dual microenvironment to examine control and experimental conditions in the same microfluidic channel.
Fluorescent nanosensors reveal dynamic pH gradients during biofilm formation
A video of 22 hour time-lapse imaging of Pseudomonas aeruginosa acidification during biofilm formation, reported by fluorescent nanosensors. Red indicates low pH, whereas green indicates higher pH values.
Polymicrobial Aggregates in Human Saliva Build the Oral Biofilm
A video of time-lapse imaging of biofilm growth from saliva inoculum on a BioFlux microfluidic channel coated with hydroxyapatite to mimic the surface of a tooth.
The consistent application of hydrogen peroxide controls biofilm growth and removes Vermamoeba vermiformis from multi-kingdom in-vitro dental unit water biofilms
Real-time video of the partial removal of biofilm layers due to the application of hydrogen peroxide. Cysts initially shrink (darkening) and eventually swell and lyse.
Key BioFlux Advantages For Oral Biofilm Studies
- Accelerate oral biofilm investigations with up to 24 experiment per plate throughput
- BioFlux does not require the use of artificial media or defined species during any point of the experiment
- Mimic the flowing conditions that occur in the human oral cavity, including pH, temperature, and shear stress
- Microfluidic channels have lower saliva requirements compared to larger systems, such as flowcells or constant depth film fermentors (CDFFs)
- Analyze both short and long-term effects of substances on biofilms as well as supply fresh nutrients by utilizing continuous flow
- Visualize and analyze the impact of anti-biofilm and antimicrobial substances on biofilms to study antibiotic tolerance and susceptibility
Featured Article
The consistent application of hydrogen peroxide controls biofilm growth and removes Vermamoeba vermiformis from multi-kingdom in-vitro dental unit water biofilms
Water systems within a dental unit are often contaminated with biofilms from multiple kingdoms, including bacteria, fungi, viruses, and protozoa. If these microorganisms become aerosolized, both patients and dental staff may become infected with potentially harmful pathogens.
In this recently published featured article, Hoogenkamp et al. examined the effectiveness of multiple treatment regimens using hydrogen peroxide with Oxygenal to disinfect dental units. To determine the most effective regimen, a BioFlux cellular analysis system was used to construct a translational in-vitro dynamic flow model to simulate multi-kingdom biofilms on dental unit water systems.
