Towards Biofilm Eradication in the Context of Medical Applications: From Tailored Surface Engineering and Sustainable Biomaterials to Underlying Microbial Genetic

A special issue of Antibiotics (ISSN 2079-6382). This special issue belongs to the section "Antimicrobial Materials and Surfaces".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (29 February 2024) | Viewed by 3596

Special Issue Editors

Department of Dental Materials and Prosthodontics, School of Dentistry, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Araçatuba 16015-050, SP, Brazil
Interests: oral infections; fungal infections; functional biomaterials; herbal medicine; nanomaterials
Department of Bioengineering, Institute of Bioengineering and Biosciences, Instituto Superior Técnico, University of Lisbon, 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal
Interests: biochemistry and molecular biology; biotechnology and applied microbiology; infectious diseases; food science and technology; cell biology; agriculture
1. I.P – National Institute for Agrarian and Veterinarian Research (INIAV), Vairão, Portugal
2. Centre of Biological Engineering (CEB), Laboratory of Research in Biofilms Rosário Oliveira (LIBRO), Campus de Gualtar, University of Minho, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
3. LABBELS–Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
Interests: food microbiology; pet animal infections; medical biotechnology
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The microbial world is extremely complex and still not understood in many ways. The unique lifestyle of microbial cells in biofilms is part of that still poorly studied world, with many of the molecular mechanisms governing this intricate interaction involving cells and colonised surfaces remaining elusive. Due to their deleterious effects, the control and, when possible, eradication of biofilms are goals completed by not only approaches that prevent cells from triggering this phenotype but also approaches that engineer surfaces and sustainable materials to reduce (or even prevent) microbial colonisation.

This Special Issue is focused on these approaches, covering the development and design of "anti-biofilm” biomaterials/biosurfaces but also the underlying genetic/genomic mechanisms that underlie the formation and maturation of biofilms. We would like to emphasize strategies that may reduce, or even prevent, biofilm formation in the medical area. Suitable topics in this Special Issue include methods to create and characterise engineered materials and surfaces as well as the investigation of genetic bases of microbial biofilms involved in chronic and recurrent infections.

We welcome research papers, short communications, and reviews involving multidisciplinary dynamic fields of biotechnology, microbiology, chemistry, and pharmacology working for the same goal: to render biofilm-related infections that are easier to treat, control, and prevent.

Prof. Dr. Debora Barros Barbosa
Prof. Dr. Nuno Pereira Mira
Dr. Sónia Silva
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • biofilms
  • infectious diseases
  • biomaterials
  • microbial genetic
  • biotechnology
  • herbal medicine

Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

16 pages, 3590 KiB  
Article
The Inflammation Level and a Microbiological Analysis of the Anophthalmic Cavities of Unilateral Ocular Prosthesis Users: A Blind, Randomized Observational Study
by Paulo Augusto Penitente, Emily Vivianne Freitas Da Silva, Marcelo Coelho Goiato, Lorena Louise Pontes Maniçoba, Victor Gustavo Balera Brito, Karina Helga Leal Túrcio, Alana Semenzin Rodrigues, Bruna Egumi Nagay and Daniela Micheline Dos Santos
Antibiotics 2022, 11(11), 1486; https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics11111486 - 27 Oct 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1059
Abstract
Irritation and biofilm adhesion are complaints associated with ocular prosthesis use. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of prosthesis repolishing on several conditions of anophthalmic volunteers. Participants were divided into two groups: intervention (IG, n = 10) and nonintervention (NIG, n = [...] Read more.
Irritation and biofilm adhesion are complaints associated with ocular prosthesis use. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of prosthesis repolishing on several conditions of anophthalmic volunteers. Participants were divided into two groups: intervention (IG, n = 10) and nonintervention (NIG, n = 6) groups. The anophthalmic cavity, contralateral eye, and prosthesis surface were evaluated at initial, day 15, and day 30 after repolishing. Microbiological analysis (colony-forming units), exfoliative cytology (conjunctiva inflammatory cells), sensory analysis (quantitative mechanical sensory test), tear production (Schirmer’s test), and conjunctival inflammation (clinical evaluation) were performed. Nonparametric tests were used to compare groups in the initial period and to analyze periods for the IG (p < 0.05). More microorganisms were formed in the anophthalmic socket and prosthesis than in the contralateral eye in the initial period. For IG, the anophthalmic cavity exhibited more microorganisms and inflammatory clinical signs in the initial period than at 15 and 30 after repolishing. The prosthesis showed greater accumulations of total bacteria and Candida albicans in the initial period than at 15 and 30 days after repolishing. The anophthalmic cavity had more palpebral inflammation than the contralateral eye. In conclusion, repolishing reduced the number of microorganisms and inflammatory signs over time. Full article
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19 pages, 1642 KiB  
Article
Pomegranate Extract Potentiates the Anti-Demineralizing, Anti-Biofilm, and Anti-Inflammatory Actions of Non-Alcoholic Mouthwash When Associated with Sodium-Fluoride Trimetaphosphate
by Gabriela Lopes Fernandes, Ana Paula Miranda Vieira, Marcelle Danelon, Nayara Gonçalves Emerenciano, Andresa Aparecida Berretta, Andrei Felipe Moreira Buszinski, Juliana Issa Hori, Mikhael Haruo Fernandes de Lima, Thaila Fernanda dos Reis, Jessica Aparecida de Lima, Alberto Carlos Botazzo Delbem, Sónia Carina Morais da Silva and Debora Barros Barbosa
Antibiotics 2022, 11(11), 1477; https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics11111477 - 25 Oct 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2064
Abstract
This study investigated the anti-caries and anti-inflammatory effects of mouthwash formulations containing Punica granatum (pomegranate) peel extract (PPE), sodium-trimetaphosphate, and low concentrations of fluoride. PPE was characterized using high-performance liquid chromatography (ellagic acid and punicalagin). Total phenolics were quantified among formulations, and their [...] Read more.
This study investigated the anti-caries and anti-inflammatory effects of mouthwash formulations containing Punica granatum (pomegranate) peel extract (PPE), sodium-trimetaphosphate, and low concentrations of fluoride. PPE was characterized using high-performance liquid chromatography (ellagic acid and punicalagin). Total phenolics were quantified among formulations, and their stability was analyzed for 28 days. The formulation effects were evaluated as follows: (1) inorganic component concentration and reduced demineralization on bovine enamel blocks subjected to pH cycling; (2) anti-biofilm effect on dual-biofilms of Streptococcus mutans ATCC 25175 and Candida albicans ATCC 10231 treated for 1 and 10 min, respectively; and (3) cytotoxicity and production of inflammatory mediators (interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha). The formulation containing 3% PPE, 0.3% sodium-trimetaphosphate, and 225 ppm of fluoride resulted in a 34.5% surface hardness loss; a 13% (treated for 1 min) and 36% (treated for 10 min) biofilm reduction in S. mutans; a 26% (1 min) and 36% (10 min) biofilm reduction in C. albicans; absence of cytotoxicity; and anti-inflammatory activity confirmed by decreased interleukin-6 production in mouse macrophages. Thus, our results provide a promising prospect for the development of an alcohol-free commercial dental product with the health benefits of P. granatum that have been recognized for a millennium. Full article
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