Next-Gen Biofilm Control: Gene Editing and Computational Approaches

Biofilms are microbial communities enclosed in an extracellular polymeric substance (EPS), significantly contributing to antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in medical, industrial, and environmental settings. Their matrix enhances microbial survival, inhibits antibiotic penetration, and facilitates horizontal gene transfer, worsening the AMR crisis. Conventional antimicrobial treatments often fail against biofilms, necessitating novel therapeutic strategies. Emerging biofilm-targeted interventions, such as nanotechnology-based antimicrobials, bacteriophage therapy, and CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing, offer promising solutions. Nanoparticles improve drug delivery, bacteriophages selectively lyse resistant bacterial populations, and CRISPR-Cas9 disrupts AMR-related genes and biofilm virulence factors. Additionally, AI and ML are advancing biofilm prediction models and antimicrobial optimization, paving the way for precision-targeted interventions. This review explores biofilm biology and next-generation biofilm control strategies, with a focus on AI-driven bioinformatics. Future research should focus on clinical translation, regulatory standardization, and scalable implementation in healthcare and industrial settings to combat biofilm-associated AMR.