Abstract
Insight into the mechanisms underlying bacterial adhesion is critical to the formulation of membrane biofouling control strategies. Using AFM-based single-cell force spectroscopy, we investigated the interaction between Pseudomonas fluorescens, a biofilm-forming bacterium, and polysulfone (PSF) ultrafiltration (UF) membranes to unravel the mechanisms underlying early stage membrane biofouling. We show that hydrophilic polydopamine (PDA) coatings decrease bacterial adhesion forces at short bacterium-membrane contact times. Further, we find that adhesion forces are weakened by the presence of natural organic matter (NOM) conditioning films, owing to the hydrophilicity of NOM. Investigation of the effect of adhesion contact time revealed that PDA coatings are less effective at preventing bioadhesion when the contact time is prolonged to 2-5 s, or when the membranes are exposed to bacterial suspensions under stirring. These results therefore challenge the notion that simple hydrophilic surface coatings are effective as a biofouling control strategy. Finally, we present evidence that adhesion to the UF membrane surface is mediated by cell-surface macromolecules (likely to be outer membrane proteins and pili) which, upon contacting the membrane, undergo surface-induced unfolding.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 162-172 |
| Number of pages | 11 |
| Journal | Environmental Science and Technology |
| Volume | 52 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Jan 2 2018 |
Fingerprint
Cite this
Bacterial Adhesion to Ultrafiltration Membranes : Role of Hydrophilicity, Natural Organic Matter, and Cell-Surface Macromolecules. / Binahmed, Sara; Hasane, Anissa; Wang, Zhaoxing; Mansurov, Aslan; Romero Vargas Castrillon, Santiago.
In: Environmental Science and Technology, Vol. 52, No. 1, 02.01.2018, p. 162-172.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Bacterial Adhesion to Ultrafiltration Membranes
T2 - Role of Hydrophilicity, Natural Organic Matter, and Cell-Surface Macromolecules
AU - Binahmed, Sara
AU - Hasane, Anissa
AU - Wang, Zhaoxing
AU - Mansurov, Aslan
AU - Romero Vargas Castrillon, Santiago
PY - 2018/1/2
Y1 - 2018/1/2
N2 - Insight into the mechanisms underlying bacterial adhesion is critical to the formulation of membrane biofouling control strategies. Using AFM-based single-cell force spectroscopy, we investigated the interaction between Pseudomonas fluorescens, a biofilm-forming bacterium, and polysulfone (PSF) ultrafiltration (UF) membranes to unravel the mechanisms underlying early stage membrane biofouling. We show that hydrophilic polydopamine (PDA) coatings decrease bacterial adhesion forces at short bacterium-membrane contact times. Further, we find that adhesion forces are weakened by the presence of natural organic matter (NOM) conditioning films, owing to the hydrophilicity of NOM. Investigation of the effect of adhesion contact time revealed that PDA coatings are less effective at preventing bioadhesion when the contact time is prolonged to 2-5 s, or when the membranes are exposed to bacterial suspensions under stirring. These results therefore challenge the notion that simple hydrophilic surface coatings are effective as a biofouling control strategy. Finally, we present evidence that adhesion to the UF membrane surface is mediated by cell-surface macromolecules (likely to be outer membrane proteins and pili) which, upon contacting the membrane, undergo surface-induced unfolding.
AB - Insight into the mechanisms underlying bacterial adhesion is critical to the formulation of membrane biofouling control strategies. Using AFM-based single-cell force spectroscopy, we investigated the interaction between Pseudomonas fluorescens, a biofilm-forming bacterium, and polysulfone (PSF) ultrafiltration (UF) membranes to unravel the mechanisms underlying early stage membrane biofouling. We show that hydrophilic polydopamine (PDA) coatings decrease bacterial adhesion forces at short bacterium-membrane contact times. Further, we find that adhesion forces are weakened by the presence of natural organic matter (NOM) conditioning films, owing to the hydrophilicity of NOM. Investigation of the effect of adhesion contact time revealed that PDA coatings are less effective at preventing bioadhesion when the contact time is prolonged to 2-5 s, or when the membranes are exposed to bacterial suspensions under stirring. These results therefore challenge the notion that simple hydrophilic surface coatings are effective as a biofouling control strategy. Finally, we present evidence that adhesion to the UF membrane surface is mediated by cell-surface macromolecules (likely to be outer membrane proteins and pili) which, upon contacting the membrane, undergo surface-induced unfolding.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85040191547&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85040191547&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1021/acs.est.7b03682
DO - 10.1021/acs.est.7b03682
M3 - Article
VL - 52
SP - 162
EP - 172
JO - Environmental Science and Technology
JF - Environmental Science and Technology
SN - 0013-936X
IS - 1
ER -