Madelyn K Mettler, Erika J Espinosa-Ortiz, Darla M Goeres, Brent M Peyton
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
Biofilms are common in water systems and can lead to mechanical failure or illness of water system users. Methods for evaluating anti-fouling coatings have largely been informed by the medical industry and have not been tailored to industrial or spacecraft water systems. The goal of the paper is to help guide researchers in designing experiments to evaluate coatings that accurately represent the system under investigation. This review identified eight experimental design considerations when evaluating coatings in water systems: biofilm reactor operation, microorganism selection, reinoculation, coating surface area, liquid medium, experiment duration, coating performance evaluation, and the use of microgravity. The impact of each decision made within each of these considerations is presented. Further, the methods featured in eight studies investigating coatings for Earth-based or spacecraft water systems are discussed. This review serves to guide researchers toward improved experimental design to enable successful technology transfer from the lab bench to Earth and beyond.
期刊介绍:
Biofouling is an international, peer-reviewed, multi-discliplinary journal which publishes original articles and mini-reviews and provides a forum for publication of pure and applied work on protein, microbial, fungal, plant and animal fouling and its control, as well as studies of all kinds on biofilms and bioadhesion.
Papers may be based on studies relating to characterisation, attachment, growth and control on any natural (living) or man-made surface in the freshwater, marine or aerial environments, including fouling, biofilms and bioadhesion in the medical, dental, and industrial context.
Specific areas of interest include antifouling technologies and coatings including transmission of invasive species, antimicrobial agents, biological interfaces, biomaterials, microbiologically influenced corrosion, membrane biofouling, food industry biofilms, biofilm based diseases and indwelling biomedical devices as substrata for fouling and biofilm growth, including papers based on clinically-relevant work using models that mimic the realistic environment in which they are intended to be used.