Work

Chemical Tethering of Motile Bacteria to Silicon Surfaces

Year: 2009

Type: article

Abstract: We chemically immobilized live, motile Escherichia coli on micrometer-scale, photocatalytically patterned silicon surfaces via amine- and carboxylic acid-based chemistries. Immobilization facilitated (i) controlled positioning; (ii) high resolution cell wall imaging via atomic force microscopy (AFM); and (iii) chemical analysis with time-of-flight-secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS). Spinning motion of tethered bacteria, captured with fast-acquisition video, proved microbe viability. We expect our protocols to open new experimental doors for basic and applied studies of microorganisms, from host-pathogen relationships, to microbial forensics and drug discovery, to biosensors and biofuel cell optimization.

Source: BioTechniques

DOI: 10.2144/000113073

Authors: Jane P. Bearinger, Lawrence C. Dugan, Ligang Wu, Haley Hill, Allen T. Christian, Jeffrey A. Hubbell

Institutions: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Northwestern University, Monsanto (United States), École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne

Language: English

Topic: Diatoms and Algae Research

Subfield: Biomaterials

Field: Materials Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $1,415

Funders: National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering