Innovative Approaches for Controlling Clinically Relevant Biofilms: Current Trends and Future Prospects

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Microbiology
• Infectious Diseases

Background:

• Bacterial biofilms on tissues and medical devices pose a significant global healthcare challenge, leading to severe infections.
• Biofilm-associated bacteria exhibit inherent resistance to conventional antibiotics due to adaptive and genetic changes.
• There is a critical need for novel antimicrobial strategies that circumvent resistance and reduce selective pressure.

Purpose of the Study:

• To critically review advanced materials and surfaces with antibacterial and antibiofilm properties.
• To explore novel strategies for preventing and treating biofilm-related infections.
• To discuss new-generation integrated antibacterial materials.

Main Methods:

• Review of scientific literature on antibiofilm materials and strategies.
• Analysis of antibiofilm coatings targeting bacterial communication and biofilm structure.
• Consideration of nano-scale antibiotic formulations and surface functionalization with phages, enzymes, peptides, and polyphenols.

Main Results:

• Advanced materials and surfaces show promise in inhibiting biofilm formation and eradicating existing biofilms.
• Strategies targeting bacterial quorum sensing and biofilm matrix disruption are effective.
• Functionalization with bacteriophages, antimicrobial peptides, and natural compounds offers alternative antibiofilm approaches.

Conclusions:

• Novel materials and strategies are essential for combating antibiotic-resistant bacterial biofilms.
• Interfering with bacterial communication and biofilm integrity presents a viable therapeutic avenue.
• Integrated antibacterial materials represent a promising direction for future infection control.