Maltodextrin enhances biofilm elimination by electrochemical scaffold

Electrochemical scaffolds (e-scaffolds) continuously generate low concentrations of H₂O₂ suitable for damaging wound biofilms without damaging host tissue. Nevertheless, retarded diffusion combined with H₂O₂ degradation can limit the efficacy of this potentially important clinical tool. H₂O₂ diffusion into biofilms and bacterial cells can be increased by damaging the biofilm structure or by activating membrane transportation channels by exposure to hyperosmotic agents. We hypothesized that e-scaffolds would be more effective against Acinetobacter baumannii and Staphylococcus aureus biofilms in the presence of a hyperosmotic agent. E-scaffolds polarized at -600 mV_Ag/AgCl were overlaid onto preformed biofilms in media containing various maltodextrin concentrations. E-scaffold alone decreased A. baumannii and S. aureus biofilm cell densities by (3.92 ± 0.15) log and (2.31 ± 0.12) log, respectively. Compared to untreated biofilms, the efficacy of the e-scaffold increased to a maximum (8.27 ± 0.05) log reduction in A. baumannii and (4.71 ± 0.12) log reduction in S. aureus biofilm cell densities upon 10 mM and 30 mM maltodextrin addition, respectively. Overall ~55% decrease in relative biofilm surface coverage was achieved for both species. We conclude that combined treatment with electrochemically generated H₂O₂ from an e-scaffold and maltodextrin is more effective in decreasing viable biofilm cell density.