The influence of experimental conditions on the final result of photoinhibition of Staphylococcus aureus.

BACKGROUND: By and large, phototherapies are a promising approach to promote inactivation of microorganisms using light exposure, providing an effective alternative to control multidrug-resistant bacterial infections. Considering this, intercomparison between experiments is vitally important. Most experiments are performed using multiwell plates in which the volume of the culture medium is not standardized. In such cases, light attenuation and the distance it travels, which also depends on the volume and vessel geometry, can lead to different results. This study investigated how the different volumes imply different depths that light will have to travel through in this volume and the relation of this parameter with the result that will be obtained. METHODS: Staphylococcus aureus was exposed to 460nm light with 50, 100 and 200J/cm2, in 100, 200, 500 and 1000µL of inocula in a 24-well plate to investigate pure light inactivation. RESULTS: The literature suggests that fluence is the most important light parameter to obtain a high eradication of microbial cells in phototherapies. Our results show evidence that different geometrical configurations, taking into account the volume of the vessels, clearly affect the in vitro results, risking misinterpretation of dosimetry studies. Effects, such as dose distribution and decantation, are discussed throughout the paper. CONCLUSION: The outcome strongly depends on the volume and vessel geometry used. This study aims to encourage the standardization of phototherapies in vitro in general.

Mechanical characterization of thin TiO2 films by means of microelectromechanical systems-based cantilevers.

The measurement of mechanical parameters by means of microcantilever structures offers a reliable and accurate alternative to traditional methods, especially when dealing with thin films, which are extensively used in microfabrication technology and nanotechnology. In this work, microelectromechanical systems (MEMS)-based piezoresistive cantilevers were realized and used for the determination of Young's modulus and residual stress of thin titanium dioxide (TiO(2)) deposited by sputtering from a TiO(2) target using a rf plasma discharge. Films were deposited at different thicknesses, ranging from a few to a hundred nanometers. Dedicated silicon microcantilevers were designed through an optimization of geometrical parameters with the development of analytical as well as numerical models. Young's modulus and residual stress of sputtered TiO(2) films were assessed by using both mechanical characterization based on scanning profilometers and piezoresistive sensing elements integrated in the silicon cantilevers. Results of MEMS-based characterization were combined with the tribological and morphological properties measured by microscratch test and x-ray diffraction analysis.