Northern Kentucky University
Probing Bacterial Adhesion: Analysis of the Interaction of Siderophores with Aqueous-Metal Oxide Interfaces
Institution
Northern Kentucky University
Faculty Advisor/ Mentor
Heather Bullen
Abstract
Biofilms have a profound impact on industrial, food processing, and medical settings creating significant problems such as: contaminating food supplies, creating infections, and corroding petrochemical, water treatment and heat exchange systems. Although biofilms are prevalent within the natural environment, it is still unclear how their interactions may influence mineral deposition/recycling or other environmental/medical processes. Characterizing the interactions of bacteria (which compose most biofilms) with metal oxide surfaces is imperative toward the development of a fundamental understanding of biofilms in aqueous systems. This presentation describes the use of attenuated total-reflectance infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) to monitor bacterial biofilm adhesion onto model metal oxide sol gel films. The role of catecholate and hydroxamate siderophore models in the initial adhesion of bacteria to TiO2, MnO2, and Cr2O3 surfaces has been investigated. The interaction of model siderophore ligands as a function of pH and ionic strength using ATR-FTIR is presented. Preliminary ATR-FTIR results indicate that catechol binds covalently to the TiO2 and MnO2 surfaces in a bidentate dianion form.
Probing Bacterial Adhesion: Analysis of the Interaction of Siderophores with Aqueous-Metal Oxide Interfaces
Biofilms have a profound impact on industrial, food processing, and medical settings creating significant problems such as: contaminating food supplies, creating infections, and corroding petrochemical, water treatment and heat exchange systems. Although biofilms are prevalent within the natural environment, it is still unclear how their interactions may influence mineral deposition/recycling or other environmental/medical processes. Characterizing the interactions of bacteria (which compose most biofilms) with metal oxide surfaces is imperative toward the development of a fundamental understanding of biofilms in aqueous systems. This presentation describes the use of attenuated total-reflectance infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) to monitor bacterial biofilm adhesion onto model metal oxide sol gel films. The role of catecholate and hydroxamate siderophore models in the initial adhesion of bacteria to TiO2, MnO2, and Cr2O3 surfaces has been investigated. The interaction of model siderophore ligands as a function of pH and ionic strength using ATR-FTIR is presented. Preliminary ATR-FTIR results indicate that catechol binds covalently to the TiO2 and MnO2 surfaces in a bidentate dianion form.