Staleya guttiformis attachment on poly(tert-butylmethacrylate) polymeric surfaces

The attachment behaviour of Staleya guttiformis DSM 11458T on poly(tert-butyl methacrylate) (P(tBMA)) polymeric surfaces has been studied. The electrostatic charge of the S. guttiformis cell surface (measured as zeta potential via microelectrophoresis) was −43.18 mV. S. guttiformis cells appeared weakly hydrophilic as the water contact angle measured on lawns of bacterial cells was found to be 55 ± 4.9°. It was found that while attaching on P(tBMA) surfaces, S. guttiformis cells produced extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) as observed from atomic force microscopy (AFM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis. The AFM high resolution imaging revealed the nano-topography of the ‘free’ (the EPS that is produced by the bacterial cells, but no longer directly attached to the cells) EPS associated on the cell surface and also found on P(tBMA) surface. The ‘free’ EPS exhibited granular structure with lateral dimensions of 30–50 nm and a vertical nano-roughness of 7–10 nm. Another type of the EPS secreted by S. guttiformis cells appeared as a hydogel substance, presumably polysaccharide that formed a biopolymer network that facilitated bacterial attachment.