College - Author 1
College of Engineering
Department - Author 1
Biomedical and General Engineering Department
Degree Name - Author 1
BS in Biomedical Engineering
Date
5-2013
Primary Advisor
Daniel Walsh
Abstract/Summary
Biofilms are present in virtually every solid-liquid contact surface and are partially responsible for some diseases and water cleaning. They are a community of a variety of organisms that live symbiotically and are bound together by extracellular polymeric substances, or EPS. Biofilms go through five stages of development. These include initial and irreversible attachments, maturations I and II, and dispersion. In the dental world, biofilms are often associated with mouth infections including dental caries, gingivitis and periodontitis. Elderly denture wearers are susceptible to the pathogen-causing bacteria associated with these diseases, particularly those who have Alzheimer's disease or other forms of forgetfulness. The decreased inclination to maintain the cleanliness of the dentures cause biofilms to proliferate. Varying the surface roughness of denture material, or polymethylmethacrylate, could lead to the discovery of a specific roughness where biofilm growth is minimized. Methodologies were established to begin the process of researching this hypothesis.
URL: https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/bmedsp/41