Electrochemical Sensing and Characterization of Aerobic Marine Bacterial Biofilms on Gold Electrode Surfaces

Reliable and accurate in situ sensors capable of detecting and quantifying troublesome marine biofilms on metallic surfaces are increasingly necessary. A 0.2 mm diameter gold electrochemical sensor was fully characterized using cyclic voltammetry in abiotic and biotic artificial seawater media within a continuous culture flow cell to detect the growth and development of an aerobic Pseudoalteromonas sp. biofilm. Deconvolution of the abiotic and biotic responses enable the constituent extracellular electron transfer and biofilm responses to be resolved. Differentiation of enhanced oxygen reduction kinetics within the aerobic bacterial biofilm is linked to enzyme and redox mediator activities.

Automated summary

This study focuses on the characterization of a 0.2 mm gold electrochemical sensor in detecting the growth and development of marine biofilms on metallic surfaces. By deconvoluting the abiotic and biotic responses, the study was able to resolve the constituent extracellular electron transfer and biofilm responses. Enhanced oxygen reduction kinetics within the aerobic bacterial biofilm were linked to enzyme and redox mediator activities.