Scholarly Work - Center for Biofilm Engineering
Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://scholarworks.montana.edu/handle/1/9335
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Item Rapid diffusion of fluorescent tracers into Staphylococcus epidermidis biofilms visualized by time lapse microscopy(2005-01) Abdul Rani, Suriani; Pitts, Betsey; Stewart, Philip S.The transient diffusion of fluorescent tracers into biofilm cell clusters of Staphylococcus epidermidis was visualized by time lapse confocal scanning laser microscopy. Rhodamine B diffused into the center of cell clusters that were 200 to 600 micron in diameter within a few minutes. The apparent effective diffusion coefficient calculated from these data averaged 3.7 x 10(-7) cm(2) s(-1) or 11% of the value in pure water. Fluorescein diffused into biofilm more rapidly, with a diffusion coefficient that averaged 1.6 x 10(-6) cm(2) s(-1), or 32% of the value in water. This study provides direct, visual confirmation that solutes the size of many antibiotics and biocides can diffuse rapidly into biofilms.