Study of the superficial distribution of microorganisms in kefir biofilms prepared with Cupuaçu juice

Abstract

Recently, much research in the field of biomaterials has focused on finding better material to serve as a dressing or temporary skin replacement, often without success. Kefir and Cupuaçu (Theobroma grandiflorum Schum) have therapeutic potential for use in this field. In this study, a morphological and statistical analysis of the superficial distribution of bacteria and yeasts in kefir biofilms prepared with Cupuaçu juice, obtained from the inoculation of kefir grains in brown sugar solution was performed. Six samples of different concentrations of the biofilms were obtained, which were analyzed in an Atomic Force Microscope to obtain topography images. Statistical analyses were performed on the surface parameters in order to determine the number and surface coverage of microorganisms in biofilms. The morphological analysis showed that the surfaces of the biofilms are composed of microorganisms similar to bacteria and yeasts. Statistical analysis showed that biofilms with a concentration of Cupuaçu between 10 and 40 g.L-1 present a greater number and coverage of bacteria. All results show that the Cupuaçu 10 g.L-1 biofilm presented the most appropriate, considering that it presented a higher number and coverage of bacteria, which is the antibacterial agent. In this perspective, the results indicate that there is an expectation of biofilms to result in a future application in the pharmaceutical industry.

Keywords

• biofilms
• cupuaçu
• morphology
• statistics