Nanocultures: Controlled Microbial Communities in Sessile Drops

The inability to replicate important aspects of microorganisms’ environment such the pH, temperature, osmotic conditions, and nutrients lead to the unculturability of a great number of bacteria on earth. In order to study microbial dynamics and their distinct physiologies, new technologies that will allow for the efficient culturing of bacteria need to be developed. We introduce a new confinement system implemented by microfluidics fabrication that replicates the microbiome and enable the study of microbial dynamic and pathogenesis. We attempt to cultivate and characterize the oral microbiome by encapsulating dental plaques using a Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)-nanoculture system. We also investigate the formation of biofilms within the nanocultures via osmotic stress manipulation.