Dresden 2026 – wissenschaftliches Programm

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BP: Fachverband Biologische Physik

BP 14: Poster Session II

BP 14.17: Poster

Dienstag, 10. März 2026, 18:00–21:00, P2

Probing Bacterial Adhesion on Functionalized Silicon Surfaces Using AFM-Based Single-Cell Force Spectroscopy — •Hannah Heintz, Hendrik Hähl, and Karin Jacobs — Experimental Physics & Center for Biophysics, Campus E2 9, 66123 Saarbrücken, Germany

Understanding bacterial adhesion to solid surfaces is crucial for biomedical as well as technical applications ranging from implants to antifouling strategies. In this study, we investigate how chemical functionalization and nanoscale roughness influence microbial attachment. We employed silicon surfaces that were modified by (i) coating with octadecyltrichlorosilane (OTS) to render them hydrophobic, (ii) pre-conditioning with a protein film of the hydrophobin HFBI from Trichoderma reesei, and (iii) controlled etching with hydrofluoric acid to introduce varying roughness levels. Adhesion forces of Staphylococcus aureus and Shewanella oneidensis were quantified using Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM)-based Single-Cell Force Spectroscopy (SCFS), employing both polydopamine-mediated and FluidFM vacuum-based cell immobilization. Complementary AFM and confocal microscopy enabled simultaneous characterization of topography, elasticity, and cell wall architecture. Our results reveal distinct adhesion profiles depending on surface chemistry and bacterial species, highlighting the interplay between hydrophobicity and roughness. These findings provide mechanistic insights into biointerface design and pave the way for tailored surface engineering to control microbial colonization.

Keywords: Single-Cell Force Spectroscopy; AFM; bacterial adhesion; hydrophobin; surface functionalization