Challenges and current advances in in vitro biofilm characterization

Abstract

Biofilms are structured communities of bacterial cells encased in a self‐produced polymeric matrix, which develop over time and exhibit temporal responses to stimuli from internal biological processes or external environmental changes. They can be detrimental, threatening public health and causing economic loss, while they also play beneficial roles in ecosystem health, biotechnology processes, and industrial settings. Biofilms express extreme heterogeneity in their physical properties and structural composition, resulting in critical challenges in understanding them comprehensively. The lack of detailed knowledge of biofilms and their phenotypes has deterred significant progress in developing strategies to control their negative impacts and take advantage of their beneficial applications. A range of in vitro models and characterization tools have been developed and used to study biofilm growth and, specifically, to investigate the impact of environmental and growth factors on their development. This review article discusses the existing knowledge of biofilm properties and explains how external factors, such as flow condition, surface, interface, and host factor, may impact biofilm growth. The limitations of current tools, techniques, and in vitro models that are currently used for biofilms are also presented.

Antimicrobial effects of an acidified nitrite foam on drip flow reactor biofilm

“…Although it has been reported that care must be taken in its clinical use, NO's ability to exogenously disrupt biofilms and destroy planktonic bacteria is finding its way into the literature with increasing frequency. 3,7,11,12,23,24 Recent developments in NO have proven it to be a novel approach to the treatment of antibiotic resistance and biofilm eradication. 3,4,[25][26][27][28][29] However, the usefulness of NO on biofilms is dose-dependent and is therefore based on the effectiveness of the delivery method.…”

“…For this reason, effectual modes of action for eradication of biofilms must include a potentiated broad spectrum antimicrobial mechanism. [6][7][8] NO is an endogenous gasotransmitter that plays a vital role in wound healing. The reported and previously demonstrated bactericidal capability of NO gas supports myriad reasons for its clinical application.…”