Real-time optotracing of curli and cellulose in live biofilms using luminescent oligothiophenes.

Extracellular matrix (ECM) is the protein- and polysaccharide-rich backbone of bacterial biofilms that provides a defensive barrier in clinical, environmental and industrial settings. Understanding the dynamics of biofilm formation in native environments has been hindered by a lack of research tools. Here we report a method for simultaneous, real-time, detection and differentiation of the ECM components curli and cellulose, using non-toxic, luminescent conjugated oligothiophenes (LCOs).