Table 1 Effects of NAC (mg/ml) on biofilm structures of PAO1

Biomass (μm³/μm²)

2.79 ± 0.64

1.63* ± 0.46

0.98* ± 0.57

0.34* ± 0.17

0.23* ± 0.12

Substratum coverage

0.52 ± 0.19

0.34 ± 0.11

0.35 ± 0.19

0.20* ± 0.08

0.21* ± 0.11

Average thickness (μm)

2.70 ± 0.80

1.47* ± 0.47

0.75* ± 0.51

0.19* ± 0.16

0.01* ± 0.01

Maximum thickness (μm)

10.20 ± 1.64

8.40* ± 1.92

5.20* ± 1.64

3.00* ± 0.80

1.60* ± 0.48

Surface area of biomass (μm²)

162515.9 ± 27990.3

99499.0* ± 25130.4

102665.0* ± 50400.6

49869.1* ± 24393.6

41504.3* ± 18129.7

Surface to volume ratio (μm²/μm³)

1.39 ± 0.33

1.41 ± 0.12

2.66* ± 0.56

3.64* ± 0.78

4.47* ± 0.66

Roughness coefficient

1.12 ± 0.19

1.43 ± 0.14

1.53* ± 0.27

1.72* ± 0.25

1.97* ± 0.02