An In Vitro Artificial Wound Slough–Biofilm Model Developed for Evaluating a Novel Antibiofilm Technology

Abstract

Eschar and slough in wounds serve as a reservoir for microorganisms and biofilms, damaged/devitalised cells, and inflammatory chemokines/cytokines, which work to initiate and prolong persistent inflammation and increase the risk of infection. Biofilm-related inflammation and infections are considered to be highly prevalent in acute wounds and chronic wounds. As slough is known to harbour biofilms, measuring the efficacy of antimicrobials in killing microbes both within and under slough is warranted. This highlights the need for more clinically relevant wound biofilm models to address this significant clinical need. Consequently, in this study, we developed an in vitro artificial wound slough (AWS) biofilm model produced by forming a biofilm below a layer of AWS, the latter of which was composed of the main protein components reported in wound eschar and slough, namely collagen, elastin, and fibrin. The model was employed to investigate the antibiofilm and antibacterial efficacy of a new patented smart next-generation antibiofilm technology composed of silver–zinc EDTA complexes and designed as a family of multifunctional metal complexes referred to as MMCs, in a liquid format, and to determine both the performance and penetration through AWS to control and manage biofilms. The results demonstrated the ability of the AWS–biofilm model to be employed for the evaluation of the efficacy of a new antibiofilm and antimicrobial next-generation smart technology. The results also demonstrated the potential for the proprietary EDTA multifunctional metal complexes to be used for the disruption of biofilms, such as those that form in chronic wounds.