Session: 16-01-01: Government Agency Student Poster Competition

Paper Number: 149732

149732 - Biofilm Growth and Architecture in Porous Media on the International Space Station: Exploring the Effect of Gravitational and Interfacial Forces on Biofilm Growth Patterns 

Biofilms are complex communities of microorganisms that form on surfaces and are enveloped in an extracellular matrix primarily composed of water and extracellular polymeric substances (EPS). The growth of biofilms in media with tortuous geometries, such as porous media, is critical in both natural and engineered systems. Understanding biofilm development in these environments is crucial due to their widespread applications in contamination mitigation, resource recovery, and potential detrimental effects like overgrowth and clogging. This interdisciplinary research spans diverse fields, including clean water and energy, oil and gas, medical devices, pharmaceuticals, microfluidics, and energy storage. Moreover, biofilm development significantly impacts other transport aspects, such as shear and mass transfer, demonstrating the breadth and depth of our project.

While substantial research has focused on biofilm growth and architecture under saturated conditions, studies addressing unsaturated conditions remain sparse. The complexity of these studies is largely due to the influence of capillary (interfacial) forces, which are difficult to isolate from other variables under Earth's gravity (1G). To address this gap, we propose conducting biofilm growth experiments under unsaturated conditions in microgravity (microG) aboard the International Space Station (ISS). This unique opportunity provided by the ISS will enable us to interpret the specific impact of capillary forces on biofilm evolution, offering insights applicable to Earth-based systems. Due to the difficulty of studying biofilms under unsaturated conditions in space, we choose to work with a monoculture that lacks motility and sensing. Our objective is to investigate the effect of a fully developed biofilm architecture on hydrodynamics rather than examining the biofilm development process over time, underscoring the significance and potential of our research.

To analyze the biofilm growth in these conditions, we are actively developing image quantification protocols using advanced machine and deep learning techniques with the Dragonfly software. Dragonfly imaging software excels in advanced 3D visualization, image processing, and analysis, making it a powerful tool for this research. These protocols will allow for the segmentation and characterization of the different phases of biofilm development in porous media. By comparing the biofilm growth and architecture between 1G and microG environments, we aim to determine the influence of microgravity on biofilm formation and structure. Our research holds significant promise for addressing global challenges related to clean water and energy, environmental sustainability, and medical applications. By leveraging the unique conditions of the ISS and state-of-the-art image analysis techniques, we aim to advance our understanding of biofilm dynamics in unsaturated environments, contributing to the development of innovative solutions for a wide range of applications.

Presenting Author: Julia Lauterbach Oregon State University

Presenting Author Biography: My research topic focuses on the growth of biofilms in porous media. Specifically, the project investigates the effect of capillary forces on the formation and evolution of biofilms. These biofilms will be characterized by utilizing 3D X-ray microtomography to understand biofilm growth and architecture. This is particularly interesting for clean water technology as biofilms are prevalent in natural and engineered structures, including biofouling systems such as water filtration and the bioremediation of contaminated soil and groundwater.

Authors:

Julia Lauterbach Oregon State University
Dorthe Wildenschild Oregon State University
Tala Navab-Daneshmand Oregon State University