Revolutionizing Biofilm Research: High-Resolution, Real-Time Imaging with ZeGage Optical Profiler

A leading university research lab studying bacterial biofilms needed a high-resolution, efficient imaging solution to overcome challenges with conventional optical profiling. Their existing system required labor-intensive sample preparation, slow data acquisition, and computationally demanding processing, limiting timely and reproducible biofilm characterization. Additionally, researchers sought enhanced resolution and time-lapse imaging to observe dynamic biofilm development, particularly in medically relevant bacterial strains like Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus epidermidis.

The lab adopted Zygo’s ZeGage Optical Profiler, a coherence scanning interferometry (CSI) system that delivers high-resolution, non-contact measurements while preserving biofilm integrity. The ZeGage system captures 3D surface topography with nanometer precision, enabling rapid, comprehensive analysis of biofilm thickness, roughness, and structural changes. Unlike traditional methods, this profiler eliminates complex sample preparation, significantly accelerates imaging, and provides a broader field of view with lower noise.

With its ability to perform time-lapse measurements, researchers can now observe biofilm growth and evolution in real-time without disrupting samples. The system’s auto-focus feature ensures stable long-term imaging, preventing issues like media evaporation. Additionally, its compact, benchtop design makes it an economical, user-friendly solution that requires minimal training.

The ZeGage Optical Profiler has transformed the lab’s biofilm research, providing faster data acquisition, increased accuracy, and simplified analysis. Researchers now achieve precise, repeatable measurements, making it an invaluable tool for studying biofilm behavior and advancing critical research in antibiotic resistance and microbial communities.