Proposal for Some Affordable Laboratory Biofilm Reactors and Their Critical Evaluations from Practical Viewpoints.

Biofilms are a result of bacterial activities and are found everywhere. They often form on metal surfaces and on the surfaces of polymeric compounds. Biofilms are sticky and mostly consist of water.

Application of a Loop-Type Laboratory Biofilm Reactor to the Evaluation of Biofilm for Some Metallic Materials and Polymers such as Urinary Stents and Catheters.

A laboratory biofilm reactor (LBR) was modified to a new loop-type closed system in order to evaluate novel stents and catheter materials using 3D optical microscopy and Raman spectroscopy. Two metallic specimens, pure nickel and cupronickel (80% Cu-20% Ni), along with two polymers, silicone and polyurethane, were chosen as examples to ratify the system. Each set of specimens was assigned to the LBR using either tap water or an NB (Nutrient broth based on peptone from animal foods and beef extract mainly)-cultured solution with formed over 48-72 h.