A Microfluidic Approach to Investigating a Synergistic Effect of Tobramycin and Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate on Pseudomonas aeruginosa Biofilms

Abstract

In recent years, a microfluidic technology has contributed a significant role in biological research, specifically for the study of biofilms. Bacterial biofilms are a source of infections and contamination in the environment due to an extra polymeric matrix. Inadequate uses of antibiotics make the bacterial biofilms antibiotic resistant. Therefore, it is important to determine the effective concentration of antibiotics in order to eliminate bacterial biofilms. The present microfluidic study was carried out to analyze the activities of tobramycin and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) against Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms with a continuous flow in order to achieve a greater delivery of the agents. The results show that a co-treatment of tobramycin and SDS significantly reduced the biomass of biofilms (by more than 99%) after 24 h. Tobramycin and SDS killed and detached bacteria in the cores of biofilms. Evidently, our data suggest that a microchannel would be effective for both quantitative and qualitative evaluations in order to test combinatorial effect of drugs and chemicals on a complexed biological system including biofilm.

Alkyl rhamnosides, a series of amphiphilic materials exerting broad-spectrum anti-biofilm activity against pathogenic bacteria via multiple mechanisms

“…Different from 12C-Rha, 12N þ -Rha specifically influenced the virulence and resistance of P. aeruginosa biofilms strongly. Vancomycin resistance relevant protein (MurF), lipopolysaccharide biosynthesis relevant protein (KdsA), four proteins mapped to cationic antimicrobial peptide (CAMP) resistance (LasB, AcrA, AcrB and ArnB) and four proteins mapped to beta-lactam resistance (AcrB, AcrA, OprM and TolC) were all downregulated after the treatment of 12N þ -Rha, which reflected the impairment of virulence and the regain of antibiotic sensibility of P. aeruginosa biofilms due to 12N þ -Rha [47,48]. What is more, the underexpression of GST (glutathione S-transferase) meant drug metabolism by cytochrome P450 was suppressed.…”

Advancements and Potential Applications of Microfluidic Approaches—A Review

“…This is because of its associated benefits such as low sample volume requirements, high-throughput, single cell sensitivity, the ability to obtain accurate bacterial cells information, and the propensity to quantify bacterial interactions in polymicrobial cultures. Various microfluidic platforms have supported these advantages for mono-microbial antibiotic susceptibility [5]. Moreover, microfluidic platforms have been used for studying co-cultures in addition to cell interaction in 2-D and 3-D environment for several applications such as tissue engineering [91].…”

“…Microfluidic scaffolds are micro-fabricated devices that have gained importance for cellular interactions [4]. Cultured cells are worn in an array of a framework like a cell science, tissue culturing, bacterial biofilms, biomedical designing and additionally pharmacokinetics for medication improvement [5][6][7]. The in vitro model makes it rational to culture cells in the required volume as an alternative to animal-based tests for medical screening.…”

Microfluidic Advancements in Classical Biotechnology – A Review

“…The utilisation of unified microfluidics is a tempting option for antibiotic susceptibility testing due to its associated benefits such as: low sample volume requirements, high-throughput, single cell sensitivity, the ability to obtain accurate bacterial cells information, and the propensity to quantify bacterial interactions in polymicrobial cultures. Various microfluidic platforms have supported these advantages for mono-microbial antibiotic susceptibility [5]. Moreover, microfluidic platforms have been used for studying co-cultures of cells in addition to cell interaction in 2D and 3D environment for several applications such as tissue engineering [91].…”

“…Microfluidic scaffolds are micro-fabricated devices that have gained much research prominence for cellular interactions [4]. Cultured cells are worn in an array of a framework like a cell science, tissue culturing, bacterial biofilms, biomedical designing and additionally pharmacokinetics for medication improvement [5,6].…”