Holographic microrheology of polysaccharides from Streptococcus mutans biofilms

Fook Chiong Cheong [1], Simone Duarte [2], Sang-Hyuk Lee [3] and David G. Grier [1]
[1] Department of Physics and Center for Soft Matter Research, New York University, New York, NY 10003
[2] Department of Basic Science and Craniofacial Biology, College of Dentistry, New York University, New York, NY 10010

Date: Rheologica Acta 48, 109-115 (2009)

Abstract:

We use three-dimensional holographic particle tracking to perform microrheological measurements of model gelled media, including the polysaccharide pellicle of dental biofilms created by the common cariogenic oral pathogen Streptococcus mutans. Nanometer-resolution video-rate holographic tracking of embedded colloidal spheres provides accurate measurements of the gels' complex viscoelastic moduli, including insights into these properties' heterogeneity. When applied to polysaccharides of S. mutans biofilms, these techniques promise quantitative microscopic assays for candidate therapeutic agents against cariogenic dental biofilms.

Keywords: video holographic microscopy; microrheology; biofilms; polysaccharide gel; Streptococcus mutans