3D-printed temperature and shear stress-controlled rocker platform for enhanced biofilm incubation
Abstract Growing biofilms of thermophilic (heat-loving) and psychrotrophic (cold-tolerant) bacteria pose several challenges due to specific environmental requirements. Thermophilic bacteria typically grow between 45 and 80 $$^{\circ }$$ C, while psychrotrophic bacteria thrive between 0 and 15 $$^{...
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Nature Portfolio
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-04575-3 |
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| author | Daniel P. G. Nilsson Krister Wiklund Dmitry Malyshev Magnus Andersson |
| author_facet | Daniel P. G. Nilsson Krister Wiklund Dmitry Malyshev Magnus Andersson |
| author_sort | Daniel P. G. Nilsson |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Growing biofilms of thermophilic (heat-loving) and psychrotrophic (cold-tolerant) bacteria pose several challenges due to specific environmental requirements. Thermophilic bacteria typically grow between 45 and 80 $$^{\circ }$$ C, while psychrotrophic bacteria thrive between 0 and 15 $$^{\circ }$$ C. Maintaining the precise temperature and fluid conditions required for biofilm growth can be technically challenging. To overcome these challenges, we designed the Bio-Rocker, a temperature- and shear stress-controlled rocker platform for biofilm incubation. The platform supports temperatures between − 9 and 99 $$^{\circ }$$ C, while its digital controller can adjust the rocking speed from 1 to 99 $$^{\circ }$$ /s and set rocking angles up to ±19 $$^{\circ }$$ . This ability, together with data from analytical models and multi-physics simulations, provides control over the shear stress distribution at the growth surfaces, peaking at 2.4 N/m $$^2$$ . Finally, we evaluated the system’s ability to grow bacteria at different temperatures, shear stress, and materials by looking at the coverage and thickness of the biofilm, as well as the total biomass. A step-by-step guide, 3D CAD files, and controller software is provided for easy replication of the Bio-Rocker, using mostly 3D-printed and off-the-shelf components. We conclude that the Bio-Rocker’s performance is comparable to high-end commercial systems like the Enviro-Genie (Scientific Industries) yet costs less than $350 dollars to produce. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-c045a2697865406bbf82d27283b2c387 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
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| spelling | doaj-art-c045a2697865406bbf82d27283b2c3872025-08-20T02:30:46ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-06-0115111110.1038/s41598-025-04575-33D-printed temperature and shear stress-controlled rocker platform for enhanced biofilm incubationDaniel P. G. Nilsson0Krister Wiklund1Dmitry Malyshev2Magnus Andersson3Department of Physics, Umeå UniversityDepartment of Physics, Umeå UniversityDepartment of Physics, Umeå UniversityDepartment of Physics, Umeå UniversityAbstract Growing biofilms of thermophilic (heat-loving) and psychrotrophic (cold-tolerant) bacteria pose several challenges due to specific environmental requirements. Thermophilic bacteria typically grow between 45 and 80 $$^{\circ }$$ C, while psychrotrophic bacteria thrive between 0 and 15 $$^{\circ }$$ C. Maintaining the precise temperature and fluid conditions required for biofilm growth can be technically challenging. To overcome these challenges, we designed the Bio-Rocker, a temperature- and shear stress-controlled rocker platform for biofilm incubation. The platform supports temperatures between − 9 and 99 $$^{\circ }$$ C, while its digital controller can adjust the rocking speed from 1 to 99 $$^{\circ }$$ /s and set rocking angles up to ±19 $$^{\circ }$$ . This ability, together with data from analytical models and multi-physics simulations, provides control over the shear stress distribution at the growth surfaces, peaking at 2.4 N/m $$^2$$ . Finally, we evaluated the system’s ability to grow bacteria at different temperatures, shear stress, and materials by looking at the coverage and thickness of the biofilm, as well as the total biomass. A step-by-step guide, 3D CAD files, and controller software is provided for easy replication of the Bio-Rocker, using mostly 3D-printed and off-the-shelf components. We conclude that the Bio-Rocker’s performance is comparable to high-end commercial systems like the Enviro-Genie (Scientific Industries) yet costs less than $350 dollars to produce.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-04575-33D printingBiofilmDesign-build-testOpen-sourceLaboratory rockersCFD simulation |
| spellingShingle | Daniel P. G. Nilsson Krister Wiklund Dmitry Malyshev Magnus Andersson 3D-printed temperature and shear stress-controlled rocker platform for enhanced biofilm incubation Scientific Reports 3D printing Biofilm Design-build-test Open-source Laboratory rockers CFD simulation |
| title | 3D-printed temperature and shear stress-controlled rocker platform for enhanced biofilm incubation |
| title_full | 3D-printed temperature and shear stress-controlled rocker platform for enhanced biofilm incubation |
| title_fullStr | 3D-printed temperature and shear stress-controlled rocker platform for enhanced biofilm incubation |
| title_full_unstemmed | 3D-printed temperature and shear stress-controlled rocker platform for enhanced biofilm incubation |
| title_short | 3D-printed temperature and shear stress-controlled rocker platform for enhanced biofilm incubation |
| title_sort | 3d printed temperature and shear stress controlled rocker platform for enhanced biofilm incubation |
| topic | 3D printing Biofilm Design-build-test Open-source Laboratory rockers CFD simulation |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-04575-3 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT danielpgnilsson 3dprintedtemperatureandshearstresscontrolledrockerplatformforenhancedbiofilmincubation AT kristerwiklund 3dprintedtemperatureandshearstresscontrolledrockerplatformforenhancedbiofilmincubation AT dmitrymalyshev 3dprintedtemperatureandshearstresscontrolledrockerplatformforenhancedbiofilmincubation AT magnusandersson 3dprintedtemperatureandshearstresscontrolledrockerplatformforenhancedbiofilmincubation |