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Models in vitro | Device | Used for |
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Closed systems (discontinuous growth conditions over time (nutrient depletion, accumulation of secondary metabolites)) | (i) 96-well polystyrene microtiter plate (ii) Discs/pieces of catheter in 6- to 24-well plate (discs made of silicone, polyurethane, polycarbonate, polystyrene, stainless steel, Teflon, polyvinyl chloride, hydroxyapatite, and porcelain) | Easy and widespread use: comparative analyses between strains and species [33ā39] to antifungal susceptibility tests [40] |
(iii) Calgary biofilm device (80 pegs immersed into a standard 96-well plate) | Biofilm formation studies by different Candida species [41] |
(iv) Candida biofilm chip (several hundreds nanobiofilms encapsulated in collagen and formed on a glass slide treated to obtained a monolayer of hydrophobic coating) | High-throughput biofilm studies [42] |
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Flow systems (Continuous growth conditions) | (i) CDC biofilm reactor (24 biofilms can be formed simultaneously) | Comparative analysis of biofilm quantification methods [43] |
(ii) Microfermentors (biofilms formed on a Thermanox slide glued to a glass spatula) | Gene expression analyses [44] |
(iii) Modified Robbins device (adapted to hold several individual discs) | Study of the effects of shear forces and nutrient supplies on C. albicans biofilm formation [45] |
(iv) Flow biofilm model (silicone elastomer strip placed into a polypropylene conical tube) | Study of C. albicans biofilm development, architecture, and drug resistance [46] |
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Shear stress conditions | Rotating disc system (silicone catheter devices placed under a shear force of 350 revolutions per minute) | C. albicans biofilm architecture and development [47] |
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