Evaluating the Implication of Siderophore/Aluminum Oxide Interactions on Biofilm
Formation
Alyssa Smith, and Heather A. Bullen
Departments of Chemistry, Northern Kentucky University, Highland Heights, KY 41099
Aluminum oxides are present in a variety of industries where biofilms are problematic. The goal
of this research is to gain a better understanding of how biofilms form on aluminum surfaces.
Aluminum oxide sol-gels were synthesized to serve as model surfaces for attenuated total
reflectance Fourier transform Infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy analysis of bacteria/aluminum
oxide interactions. The role of the siderophore, pyoverdin, in the initial adhesion of
Pseudomonas aeruginosa to Al2O3 surfaces has been investigated. Binding was evaluated
using scanning probe microscopy, ATR-FTIR and dissolution analysis.