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Published on: October 9, 2016
Microemulsions are highly effective anti-biofilm agents
I S I Al-Adham1, N D Al-Hmoud, E Khalil
1School of Pharmacy & Medical Technology, University of Petra, Amman, Jordan, School of Contemporary Sciences, University of Abertay Dundee, Dundee, Scotland, UK.
Aims:
The demonstration of the antibiofilm effects of pharmaceutical microemulsions.
Methods And Results:
Microemulsions were prepared as physically stable oil/water systems. Previous work by this group has shown that microemulsions are highly effective antimembrane agents that result in rapid losses of viability in planktonic populations of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus. In this experiment a microemulsion preparation was used upon established biofilm cultures of Ps. aeruginosa PA01 for a period of 4 h. The planktonic MIC of sodium pyrithione and the planktonic and biofilm MICs of cetrimide were used as positive controls and a biofilm was exposed to a volume of normal sterile saline as a treatment (negative) control. Results indicate three log-cycle reductions in viability within the microemulsion treated biofilm, as compared to those observed in control treatments of similar biofilms (one log-cycle reduction in viabilities).
Conclusions:
The results indicate that the microemulsions are highly effective antibiofilm agents.
Significance And Impact Of The Study:
This study suggests that microemulsions may have a role in the treatment of industrial and environmental biofilms.
Insights
Pharmaceutical microemulsions demonstrate potent antibiofilm effects against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. These oil/water systems significantly reduce biofilm viability, offering potential for industrial and environmental applications.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Pharmaceutical Sciences
- Materials Science
Background:
- Microemulsions are stable oil/water systems.
- Previous research established microemulsions as effective antimicrobial agents against planktonic bacteria.
- Biofilms pose significant challenges due to their resilience.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the antibiofilm efficacy of pharmaceutical microemulsions.
- To assess the impact of microemulsions on established bacterial biofilms.
Main Methods:
- Microemulsions were prepared as stable oil/water systems.
- Established biofilms of Pseudomonas aeruginosa PA01 were treated with microemulsions for 4 hours.
- Comparisons were made against positive controls (sodium pyrithione, cetrimide) and a negative control (saline).
Main Results:
- Microemulsion treatment resulted in a three log-cycle reduction in biofilm viability.
- Control treatments showed only a one log-cycle reduction in viability.
- Microemulsions demonstrated superior antibiofilm activity compared to controls.
Conclusions:
- Pharmaceutical microemulsions are highly effective antibiofilm agents.
- Microemulsions show promise for treating industrial and environmental biofilms.
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