The team at a leading university research lab studies bacterial biofilms for insights into their behaviour and growth processes. Accurate biofilm measurement is essential for the lab’s work. However, the complexity and variability of biofilms pose unique challenges for conventional imaging tools.

The team at the lab was using an optical profiling instrument that enabled high resolution, three-dimensional imaging of biofilm structures. Labor-intensive sample preparation combined with time-consuming imaging and computationally intensive data processing were leading to long acquisition times. These limitations hindered timely and reproducible biofilm characterization, critical for the labs ongoing studies. At the same time, researchers were looking for higher resolution imaging to better study the fine structure of the biofilms. And because biofilms are dynamic systems, there was great interest in imaging techniques that could provide time-lapse images of bacteria during the initial growth and division phase. The team also explored profiling dynamic biofilm development, targeting specific bacterial strains like Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus epidermidis, known for their medical relevance in antibiotic resistance.