Success and failure of colloidal approaches in adhesion of microorganisms to surfaces

Abstract

Biofilms are communities of cells attached to surfaces, their contributions to biological process may be either a benefit or a threat depending on the microorganism involved and on the type of substrate and environment. Biofilm formation is a complex series of steps; due to the size of microorganisms, the initial phase of biofilm formation, the bacterial adhesion to the surface, has been studied and modeled using theories developed in colloidal science. In this review the application of approaches such as Derjaguin, Landau, Verwey, Overbeek (DLVO) theory and its extended version (xDLVO), to bacterial adhesion is described along with the suitability and applicability of such approaches to the investigation of the interface phenomena regulating cells adhesion. A further refinement of the xDLVO theory encompassing the brush model is also discussed. Finally, the evidences of phenomena neglected in colloidal approaches, such as surface heterogeneity and fluid flow, likely to be the source of failure are defined.

Diffusion-limited attachment of large spherical particles to flexible membrane-immobilized receptors

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Enhancement of ZnO particles aggregation and sedimentation using polysaccharide and amino acid: Importance in abiological granular sludge (ABGS) formation

“…Then, particles fall into the primary minimum and markedly aggregate. Aggregation degree is proportional to the extent of absolute value of V T [47]. This kind of aggregation is known as irreversible aggregation, which is meaningful to our study.…”

Understanding particle deposition kinetics on NF membranes: A focus on micro-beads and membrane interactions at different environmental conditions

“…There are several challenges to modelling bacterial surface interactions due in part to the complex and heterogeneous nature of the cell outer-membrane [15]. In an effort to better eliminate these effects and to validate mathematical models it is sometimes useful to employ abiotic particles that have similarities to bacteria [10,13].…”