Innovative Approaches for Biofilm Control and Eradication

Dear Colleagues,

Biofilms continue to attract great attention since they are ubiquitous and are a unique environment that protect microorganisms from a panoply of environmental hazards. They can be found in a large number of aquatic, industrial, and water systems, as well as in clinical settings and medical devices, and are associated with numerous infectious diseases. Biofilm formation is still an important issue, particularly due to its recalcitrance to ultraviolet radiation, extreme temperature, extreme pH, high salinity, high pressure, poor nutrients, antibiotics, biocides, and disinfectants. Naturally, the worst reputation of biofilms is associated with the medical and healthcare field because approximately 60% of microbial infections in humans are caused by biofilms, including severe lung infections in cystic fibrosis patients, bacterial endocarditis, otitis media, periodontal disease, osteomyelitis, and urinary tract infections. However, biofilms pose serious problems in several other fields of human activity. They are also commonly found on surfaces in technical systems, such as drinking water and sewage systems, and in the food as well as pulp and paper industries, where they can cause biofouling, corrosion, and risk of contamination of water, food, or other products. Moreover, the presence of biofilms in any kind of system (clinical or industrial) can serve as a reservoir for pathogenic microorganisms and as a potential source for the dissemination of antimicrobial resistance.

The avenues to tackle biofilms (e.g., physical and chemical methods for biofilm removal, ultraviolet disinfection, and conventional antibiotics) have so far proven to be ineffective for the control and eradication of biofilms, and the concerns have persisted over the years. Therefore, the development of innovative strategies to control and eradicate biofilms are still on the agenda. This Special Issue is calling for the submission of original studies focused on the latest developments in the search, development, and application of novel strategies to combat biofilms in the human body, and in clinical and industrial settings. A major focus of this Special Issue is placed on: i) anti-biofilm molecules (e.g., quorum-sensing inhibitors, enzymatic disruption, herbal active compounds, chelating agents, antimicrobial peptides, and synthetic chemical compounds); ii) drug delivery systems; iii) bio- and nanomaterials; iv) surface modification, conditioning, and coating; v) biological approaches (e.g., probiotics); vi) physicochemical approaches; vii) bioelectric approaches; and xiii) biosurfactants. Our aim is to collect and disseminate some of the most significant and recent contributions in the interdisciplinary areas of microbiology, chemistry, pharmacology, material science, nanotechnology, and electronics.

Submissions of original research articles, short communications, and review articles are most welcome.

Dr. María Olívia Pereira
Dr. Ana Margarida Sousa
Guest Editors

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