New strategies to overcome biofilm formation by natural product derivatives

Biofilm is a microbial community in which microorganisms are tightly bound to each other and enclosed in a self-produced matrix (EPS). Bacterial biofilm is frequently present on moisty surfaces, food, teeth, medical devices, water systems etc. In humans, biofilms can be damaging for the health, causing and sustaining chronic infections due to their high antibiotic resistance, but also beneficial (e.g., microbiome). Among the different approaches to prevent biofilm formation, the new trend is to consider antibiofilm agents acting at sublethal concentrations. In this way, the compounds inhibit biofilm formation without killing the bacteria, thus avoiding resistance selection. Based on our previous experience in the use of LDPE, covalently functionalized with natural product derivatives (paminosalicylic and p-aminocinnamic acids), for the development of antifouling materials for medical devices1,2, we decided to improve and adapt our validated strategy to silica nanoparticles. Therefore, we functionalized the starting material (Ludox HS-40) with the above-mentioned natural derivatives, using linkers differing in nature and length, to obtain nanoparticles suitable for the coating of various surfaces. The obtainment of the new systems, their characterization, the preparation of the coating, and the biological evaluation of their antibiofilm activities will be presented. References 1. Cattò C.; Dell'Orto S.; Villa F.; Villa S.; Gelain A.; Vitali A.; Marzano V.; Baroni S.; Forlani F.; Cappitelli F.; Plos One, 2015,10, 1-24. 2. Cattò C.; Grazioso G.; Dell’Orto S.; Gelain A.; Villa S., Marzano V.; Vitali A.; Villa F.; Cappitelli F.; Forlani F.; Biofouling, 2017, 33, 235-2