Effect of multi-walled carbon nanotubes on Escherichia coli biofilm formation

The effect of purified and unpurified multi-walled carbon nanotubes on the biofilm formation of Escherichia coli strains isolated from different sources has been studied. It has been shown that carbon nano-materials in the culture medium do not inhibit biofilm formation, but on days 1-3 of growth lead to the formation of more massive biofilms of some strains. Significantly more intense destruction of mature biofilms of E. coli K12, E. coli K12 TG1 (pXen7) and one natural strain in the presence of carbon nanotubes in the medium was noted. No clear dependence of biofilm formation and destruction of formed biofilms on the degree of purification of nanotubes was found.