Dependency of hydration and growth conditions on the mechanical properties of oral biofilms

J Pattem,R Maev,M Davrandi,S Aguayo,D Spratt,B Slak,E Allan,L Bozec

doi:10.1038/s41598-021-95701-4

Abstract

Within the oral cavity, dental biofilms experience dynamic environments, in part due to changes in dietary content, frequency of intake and health conditions. This can impact bacterial diversity and morpho-mechanical properties. While phenotypic properties of oral biofilms are closely related to their composition, these can readily change according to dynamic variations in the growth environment and nutrient availability. Understanding the interlink between phenotypic properties, variable growth conditions, and community characterization is an essential requirement to develop structure–property relationships in oral-biofilms. In this study, the impact of two distinct growth media types with increasing richness on the properties of oral biofilms was assessed through a new combination of in-vitro time-lapse biophysical methods with microbiological assays. Oral biofilms grown in the enriched media composition presented a decrease in their pH, an increase in soluble EPS production, and a severe reduction in bacterial diversity. Additionally, enriched media conditions presented an increase in biofilm volumetric changes (upon hydration) as well as a reduction in elastic modulus upon indentation. With hydration time considered a major factor contributing to changes in biofilm mechanical properties, we have shown that it is less associated than media richness. Future investigations can now use this time-lapse approach, with a clearer focus on the extracellular matrix of oral biofilms dictating their morpho-mechanical properties.

Highlights

Within the oral cavity, dental biofilms experience dynamic environments, in part due to changes in dietary content, frequency of intake and health conditions
The full extent of varying diet on the bacterial and extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) composition of the oral biofilm is not clearly understood, a recent study has shown that the oral biofilm community composition can be modulated by dietary interventions which could have an impact on the EPS constituents[12]
This study sought to determine the effect of growth media richness on the community structure of oral biofilms upon rehydration

Summary

Introduction

Dental biofilms experience dynamic environments, in part due to changes in dietary content, frequency of intake and health conditions. This can impact bacterial diversity and morpho-mechanical properties. Oral biofilms experience dynamic cycles of de- and rehydration due to fluid c onsumption[14] and saliva s timulation[15] Conditions such as Sjögren’s syndrome, which present with reduced salivary flow, can affect these further, elevating.

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