Abstract

With applications in bioremediation, biosensing, and bioenergy, microbial electrochemical systems are a rapidly growing, multidisciplinary field within biological, chemical, and materials science. Since these systems use living microorganisms as biocatalysts, it is important to understand how microbial physiology, namely biofilm formation, affects these electrochemical systems. Specifically, the literature lacks research that assesses the effects of biofilm on metabolic current output in mediated electron transfer systems. in this study, Rhodobacter capsulates and Pseudomonas putida GPo1 were used as model, nonpathogenic strains that facilitate electron transfer via diffusible redox mediators. Nitric oxide has gained attention in biomedicine as a gaseous signaling molecule, which at sublethal concentrations may either augment or inhibit biofilm formation depending on the bacterial species. in R. capsulates, nitric oxide treatment was associated with increased current yield and improved biofilm formation. However, in P. putida GPo1, nitric oxide treatment corresponded to significantly reduced current output, as well as biofilm dispersal. in addition to highlighting the use of electrochemical tools to assess the effects of nitric oxide in biofilm formation, these findings demonstrate that biofilm-Based mediated electron transfer systems benefit from the increased electrochemical output and enhanced cell adhesion, which is promising for more robust applications compared to their planktonic counterparts.

Department(s)

Chemistry

Publication Status

Open Access

Comments

Office of Naval Research, Grant N00014–21–1–4008

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

1945-7111; 0013-4651

Document Type

Article - Journal

Document Version

Citation

File Type

text

Language(s)

English

Rights

© 2025 The Electrochemical Society, All rights reserved.

Publication Date

01 Apr 2023

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Chemistry Commons

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