Real-Time Detection of the Bacterial Biofilm Formation Stages Using QCM-Based Sensors
Jordi Salazar,
Miquel-Àngel Amer,
Antoni Turó,
Nagore Castro,
Marc Navarro,
Sara Soto,
Yaiza Gabasa,
Yuly López,
Juan-Antonio Chávez
Affiliations
Jordi Salazar
IS2—Intelligent Systems and Integrated Systems Group, Department of Electronic Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, 08034 Barcelona, Spain
Miquel-Àngel Amer
IS2—Intelligent Systems and Integrated Systems Group, Department of Electronic Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, 08034 Barcelona, Spain
Antoni Turó
IS2—Intelligent Systems and Integrated Systems Group, Department of Electronic Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, 08034 Barcelona, Spain
Nagore Castro
IS2—Intelligent Systems and Integrated Systems Group, Department of Electronic Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, 08034 Barcelona, Spain
Marc Navarro
IS2—Intelligent Systems and Integrated Systems Group, Department of Electronic Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, 08034 Barcelona, Spain
Sara Soto
ISGlobal, Hospital Clínic-Universitat de Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain
Yaiza Gabasa
ISGlobal, Hospital Clínic-Universitat de Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain
Yuly López
ISGlobal, Hospital Clínic-Universitat de Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain
Juan-Antonio Chávez
IS2—Intelligent Systems and Integrated Systems Group, Department of Electronic Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, 08034 Barcelona, Spain
Bacterial biofilms are a major cause of harm related to medical infections and biofouling. Thus, 80% of total infections are caused by biofilm-forming microorganisms. Consequently, knowledge of biofilm formation stages is crucial to develop effective treatments to prevent their formation in medical implants, tools, and devices. For this purpose, quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) sensors are becoming a good alternative to analytical methods for the real-time monitoring of bacterial growth in liquid media culture. In a previous paper, the authors described an affordable multi-channel measurement instrument based on QCM sensors. However, in order to validate its correct operation, complementary experimental measurements based on bacterial biofilm growth were performed. In this work, the experimental measurements that allow the identification of the different biofilm formation stages are described. The results obtained are discussed.
