Utilization of physicochemical approach to propose a strategy for biofilm inhibition

Biofilm development, which occurs on numerous surfaces, can reduce the efficiency and increase operating costs in bioprocesses and fermentation. The current study proposes a strategy for biofilm inhibition by investigating the interactions between microorganisms and surfaces using an extended Derjaguin-Landau-Verwey-Overbeek (xDLVO) approach and cell partition index (CPI) technique. Glass slide and Petri dish surfaces were modified with different surfactants. The results show that modification increased CPI values and altered the interaction behavior from attractive to repulsive, between microbial cells and different surfaces. Secondary energy values calculated by xDLVO theory between microbial cells and modified surfaces were repulsive. Meanwhile, the secondary energy values calculated for microbial cells and unmodified glass slide (-31 <i>k</i>T) and Petri dish surfaces (-27 <i>k</i>T) were attractive between cells and surfaces. The current study has opened a window for research in the field of biofilm inhibition through a surface energetics approach.