Université Catholique de Louvain uses our SpectraMax absorbance and multi-mode readers to help fight biofilms

"Another great advantage, according to Wafi, is “the large choice of microplate sizes from 6 to 384 wells which the SpectraMax M series offers".
Wafi Siala

Université Catholique de Louvain,Louvain Drug Research Institute

Wafi Siala is part of Françoise Van Bambeke’s team

Wafia is also an R&D scientist at One Life SA

SpectraMax M3 Multi-Mode Microplate Reader

VersaMax ELISA

The Challenge

Wafi’s main research topic aims to set up a pharmacodynamic model comparing antibiotic activities against biofilms and examine in parallel their effects on viability and biofilm mass. The team have compared the effects of antibiotics on bacterial viability and antibiotic penetration in the biofilm.

In their research they needed to measure biofilm production using crystal violet absorbance, a cationic dye which stains nonspecifically negatively charged biofilm constituents based on ionic interactions. They also needed to observe the bacterial viability within the biofilm using the blue-colored phenoxazin dye resazurin, which is reduced by viable bacteria to the pink, fluorescent compound resorufin1.

Université Catholique de Louvain uses SpectraMax Absorbance and Multi-Mode Readers

The Solution

The team needed to perform both fluorescence and absorbance measurements, for which they had acquired two types of microplate readers; the VersaMax ELISA Absorbance Reader and the SpectraMax M3. The SpectraMax M3 allows multi-mode measurements and provides the team with greater flexibility.