Zosteric acid and salicylic acid bound to a low density polyethylene surface successfully control bacterial biofilm formation |
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Authors: | C. Cattò G. James F. Villa S. Villa |
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Affiliation: | 1. Department of Food Environmental and Nutritional Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy;2. Center for Biofilm Engineering, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, USA;3. Center for Biofilm Engineering, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, USA;4. Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy |
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Abstract: | The active moieties of the anti-biofilm natural compounds zosteric (ZA) and salicylic (SA) acids have been covalently immobilized on a low density polyethylene (LDPE) surface. The grafting procedure provided new non-toxic eco-friendly materials (LDPE-CA and LDPE-SA) with anti-biofilm properties superior to the conventional biocide-based approaches and with features suitable for applications in challenging fields where the use of antimicrobial agents is limited. Microbiological investigation proved that LDPE-CA and LDPE-SA: (1) reduced Escherichia coli biofilm biomass by up to 61% with a mechanism that did not affect bacterial viability; (2) significantly affected biofilm morphology, decreasing biofilm thickness, roughness, substratum coverage, cell and matrix polysaccharide bio-volumes by >80% and increasing the surface to bio-volume ratio; (3) made the biofilm more susceptible to ampicillin and ethanol. Since no molecules were leached from the surface, they remained constantly effective and below the lethal level; therefore, the risk of inducing resistance was minimized. |
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Keywords: | Zosteric acid salicylic acid anti-biofilm bio-hybrid material surface functionalization |
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