Affiliations 

  • 1 Department of Life Sciences, School of Pharmacy, International Medical University (IMU), Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur 57000, Malaysia
  • 2 School of Postgraduate Studies, International Medical University (IMU), Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur 57000, Malaysia
  • 3 Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), Serdang 43400, Malaysia
  • 4 Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, International Medical University (IMU), Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur 57000, Malaysia
Nanomaterials (Basel), 2021 Apr 19;11(4).
PMID: 33921904 DOI: 10.3390/nano11041046

Abstract

Biofilm formation represents a significant cause of concern as it has been associated with increased morbidity and mortality, thereby imposing a huge burden on public healthcare system throughout the world. As biofilms are usually resistant to various conventional antimicrobial interventions, they may result in severe and persistent infections, which necessitates the development of novel therapeutic strategies to combat biofilm-based infections. Physicochemical modification of the biomaterials utilized in medical devices to mitigate initial microbial attachment has been proposed as a promising strategy in combating polymicrobial infections, as the adhesion of microorganisms is typically the first step for the formation of biofilms. For instance, superhydrophobic surfaces have been shown to possess substantial anti-biofilm properties attributed to the presence of nanostructures. In this article, we provide an insight into the mechanisms underlying biofilm formation and their composition, as well as the applications of nanomaterials as superhydrophobic nanocoatings for the development of novel anti-biofilm therapies.

* Title and MeSH Headings from MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.