Glyco-Nanogels for Modulating Pseudomonas aeruginosa Biofilm

Pseudomonas aeruginosa forms biofilms that complicate treatment of infections, with lectins LecA and LecB playing crucial roles in this process. This study investigates the inhibitory effect of glycosylated nanogels on lectin binding and biofilm formation. Nanogels presenting melibiose (α-galactose) and fucose (β-fucose) effectively reduce LecA and LecB binding, respectively, in competitive inhibition assays against immobilized glycoproteins. Melibiose nanogels are more potent inhibitors than fucose nanogels, as α-galactose is more strongly bound by LecA than β-fucose by LecB. Both types of glycogels have a high impact on P. aeruginosa biofilm formation. Notably, the timing of glycogel application significantly influences biofilm dynamics; pre-treatment leads to a 75% reduction in biofilm formation, whereas treatment after biofilm initiation results in a 60% increase in biofilm growth, suggesting that these glycogels can act as both inhibitors and enhancers of biofilm development. The findings highlight the complexity of carbohydrate-based interactions in biofilm modulation and underscore the necessity for precise dosing and structural optimization in developing effective strategies against infections caused by biofilm-forming bacteria.