Theoretical and experimental approaches of bacteria-biomaterial interactions

Bacterial adhesion to surfaces is a complicated process influenced by many factors including the bacteria (surface energy and charge, molecular details), the substratum surface (chemical composition, roughness, configuration, surface energy and charge) and environmental factors (serum proteins, flow conditions, temperature, bacterial concentration, time of exposure, antibiotics). The models that have been proposed for the quantitative prediction of bacteria-material interactions are based on colloidal theories and macromolecular binding considerations. Two categories of techniques used in calculating bacterial adhesion strength and bacteria-material interactions have been proposed: those that utilize fluid flowing against adherent bacteria and those that manipulate single bacteria (atomic force microscopy and optical tweezers), and are concisely reviewed.