Optical control and manipulation of bacterial biofilm formation

Biofilms occur when the environmental conditions for a bacterium become suboptimal and hostile, leading the bacteria to utilize biofilm as a defensive strategy. In our work, we determined how different wavelengths of light impact biofilm development and how optical tweezers can be used to manipulate the spatial distribution of biofilm and assess its strength. In particular, we investigated the biofilm formation of Bacillus subtilis in a minimum salts glycerol glutamate (MSgg) medium. Understanding biofilm formation and control strategies is critical because of its effect on human health and the potential for novel biomaterials in future biodegradable technology.