The effect of surface properties on the strength of attachment of fungal spores using AFM perpendicular force measurements

Polymeric substrata may be biodegraded by fungal species resulting in damaged, weakened and unsightly materials. This process typically begins with fungal spore attachment to the surface. In order to better understand the processes that precedes a biofouling event, fungal spore attachment to a range of surfaces, was determined using perpendicular force measurements. This was carried out using atomic force microscope cantilevers modified with fungal spores from Aspergillus niger 1957 (5 μm diameter, non-wettable, spherical), Aspergillus niger 1988 (5 μm diameter non-wettable, spikey) or Aureobasidium pullulans (5 μm–10 μm sized, wettable, ellipsoidal). The strength of attachment of the spores was determined in combination with seven surfaces (nitric acid cleaned glass, cast poly(methylmethacrylate) sheet [c-PMMA], polytetrafluoroethylene [PTFE], silicon wafers spin coated with poly(3-methacryloxypropyltrimethoxy silane (γ-MPS)-co-methylmethacrylate (MMA)) [p(γ-MPS-co-MMA)], poly (γ-MPS-co-lauryl methacrylate) [p(γ-MPS-co-LMA)] [both in a ratio of 10–90], PMMA dissolved in a solvent [PMMAsc] and silicon wafers). Perpendicular force measurements could not be related to the Ra values of the surfaces, but surface wettability was shown to have an effect. All three spore types interacted comparably with the surfaces. All spores attached strongly to c-PMMA and glass (wettable surfaces), and weakly to PTFE, (p(γ- MPS-co-LMA)) (non-wettable) and (p(γ-MPS-co-MMA)). Spore shape also affected the strength of attachment. Aureobasidium pullulans spores attached with the widest range of forces whilst A. niger 1957 attached with the smallest. Findings will inform the selection of surfaces for use in environments where biofouling is an important consideration.