Fiber-optic microsensors to measure backscattered light intensity in biofilms

Summary form only given. Biofilms are a predominant microbial growth mode in natural and engineered systems. Biofilm processes are implicated in bioremediation of toxic compounds, oral hygiene, souring of oil formations, microbially influenced corrosion, and infection of prosthetic devices. To evaluate metabolic activity of biofilm microorganisms it is imperative to measure chemical gradients of nutrient concentration across microbial deposits less than a few hundred microns thick. Micro-scale fiber-optic sensors have several potential advantages. They are immune to electromagnetic noise, need no reference electrodes and are easier to fabricate. We have developed a fiber-optic microsensor based on commercially available optical telecommunications components that measures backscattered light from a tapered fiber tip. The biofilm preparation and standard measurement techniques are described elsewhere.