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A Platform of Anti-biofilm Assays Suited to the Exploration of Natural Compound Libraries
Published on: December 27, 2016
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Functionalized Self-Assembled Monolayers: Versatile Strategies to Combat Bacterial Biofilm Formation
Pamela M Lundin1, Briana L Fiser2, Meghan S Blackledge1
1Department of Chemistry, High Point University, High Point, NC 27268, USA.
Pharmaceutics
|August 26, 2022
Summary
Self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) offer a promising chemical strategy to combat biofilm infections, which cause up to 80% of human bacterial infections. These surface coatings can prevent biofilm formation or immobilize antibacterial agents for medical devices.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Surface Chemistry
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Bacterial biofilm infections constitute a significant global health threat, accounting for up to 80% of human infections.
- Rising antibiotic resistance, driven by factors like medical device use and prolonged hospital stays, exacerbates the challenge, with projected deaths surpassing cancer and diabetes by 2050.
- Traditional treatments are increasingly ineffective, necessitating novel strategies to combat persistent bacterial infections.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the application of self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) in inhibiting bacterial biofilm formation.
- To explore the potential of SAMs, both alone and functionalized with biocidal agents, for use in combating biofilm-related infections, particularly on indwelling medical devices.
- To discuss current challenges and future research directions in the field of SAMs for biofilm control.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on chemical and physical strategies for combating biofilm formation.
- Focus on self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) as a chemical strategy due to their thinness, strong bonding, and synthetic versatility.
- Analysis of SAMs' efficacy in preventing biofilm formation and their use in tethering antibacterial agents (e.g., antibiotics, nanoparticles, peptides, polymers) to surfaces.
Main Results:
- Self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) present a versatile approach to inhibit bacterial biofilm formation on surfaces.
- SAMs can be designed to prevent biofilm formation intrinsically or to immobilize antibacterial agents, thereby limiting their environmental release.
- Functionalized SAMs show potential for application in indwelling medical devices to reduce infection rates.
Conclusions:
- SAMs represent a promising technology for developing advanced antimicrobial surfaces and medical devices.
- Further research is needed to address challenges related to long-term stability, biocompatibility, and large-scale manufacturing of SAM-based anti-biofilm strategies.
- The field holds significant potential for mitigating the growing threat of antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections.
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