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Updated: Feb 8, 2026

Methods for Characterizing the Co-development of Biofilm and Habitat Heterogeneity
Published on: March 11, 2015
Terpyridine-Micelles for Inhibiting Bacterial Biofilm Development
Jing Qiao1, Max Purro1,2, Zhi Liu1
1Department of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences, College of Pharmacy , University of Georgia , 250 W. Green Street , Athens , Georgia 30602-2352 , United States.
Abstract:
Iron plays a critical role in bacterial infections and is especially critical for supporting biofilm formation. Until recently, Fe(III) was assumed to be the most relevant form of iron to chelate in therapeutic antimicrobial strategies due to its natural abundance under normal oxygen and physiologic conditions. Recent clinical data obtained from cystic fibrosis (CF) patients found that there is actually quite an abundance of Fe(II) present in sputum and that there exists a significant relationship between sputum Fe(II) concentration and severity of the disease. A biocompatible mixed micelle formed from the self-assembly of poly(lactic- co-glycolic acid)- block-methoxy poly(ethylene glycol) (PLGA- b-mPEG) and poly(lactic- co-glycolic acid)- block-poly(terpyridine)5 [PLGA- b-p(Tpy)5] polymers was prepared to chelate Fe(II) (Tpy-micelle). Tpy-micelles showed high selectivity for Fe(II) over Fe(III), decreased biofilm mass more effectively under anaerobic conditions at >4 μM Tpy-micelles, reduced bacteria growth in biofilms by >99.9% at 128 μM Tpy-micelles, effectively penetrated throughout a 1-day old biofilm, and inhibited biofilm development in a concentration-dependent manner. This study reveals that Fe(II) chelating Tpy-micelles are a promising addition to Fe(III) chelating strategies to inhibit biofilm formation in CF lung infections.
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