Microorganism adhesion experimental study using silicon dioxide

In this study, yeast, Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria were attached to silicon dioxide microparticles or silica in order to measure their absorbance, also known as physical absorption of light, changes using spectrophotometry. The goal of the study was to determine if spectrophotometry is an effective way to distinguish microorganisms and if microorganisms have an affinity for silicon dioxide since it is a suitable material for the production of prostheses. The experiment was done by examining the light absorption properties of yeast, Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria in a spectrophotometer with and without silicon dioxide microparticles. During the experiment there have been several promising results. First of all, the spectrophotometers presented graphs of yeast were noticeably different from the graphs of both Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria. Secondly, the absorption of light in both Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria at near infrared (700-1500 nm) wavelengths increased when silicon dioxide microparticles were added to the suspension, unlike yeast. When silicon dioxide microparticles were added to yeast, the absorption of light decreased during the whole wavelength interval of the spectrophotometer measurement. The results indicate that spectrophotometry could be used to distinguish yeast from bacteria and possibly bacteria from each other. The results also suggest that silicon dioxide should not be used in the production of prostheses since it could be a favourable material for the development of biofilms.