Development of a Microbioreactor for Biofilm Cultivation.

To improve our understanding of growth and biofilm formation under different environmental conditions, two versions of a microfluidic reactor with two channels separated by a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) membrane were developed. The gas phase was introduced into the channel above the membrane, and oxygen transfer from the gas phase through the membrane was assessed by measuring the dissolved oxygen concentration in the liquid phase using a miniaturized optical sensor and oxygen-sensitive nanoparticles. biofilm formation was monitored in the growth channels of the microbioreactors, which were designed in two shapes: one with circular extensions and one without.