RT Journal Article
T1 Immersed Boundary Approach to Biofilm Spread on Surfaces
A1 Carpio Rodríguez, Ana María
A1 González Albaladejo, Rafael
AB We propose a computational model to study the growth and spread of bacterial biofilms on interfaces, as well as the action of antibiotics on them. Bacterial membranes are represented by boundaries immersed in a fluid matrix and subject to interaction forces. Growth, division and death of bacterial cells follow dynamic energy budget rules, in response to variations in environmental concentrations of nutrients, toxicants and substances released by the cells. In this way, we create, destroy and enlarge boundaries, either spherical or rod-like. Appropriate forces represent details of the interaction between cells, and the interaction with the environment. We can investigate geometrical arrangements and the formation of porous structures. Numerical simulations illustrate the evolution of top views and diametral slices of small biofilm seeds, as well as the action of antibiotics. We show that cocktails of antibiotics targeting active and dormant cells can entirely eradicate a biofilm.
PB Global Science Press
SN 1815-2406
SN 1991-7120
YR 2022
FD 2022
LK https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/93932
UL https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/93932
LA eng
NO Ana Carpio, A.C., and Rafael González-Albaladejo, R.G.-A., 2022, Immersed Boundary Approach to Biofilm Spread on Surfaces: Communications in Computational Physics, v. 31, p. 257–292, doi:10.4208/cicp.OA-2021-0039.
NO Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades (España)
DS Docta Complutense
RD 6 abr 2025