The use of nanomaterials for the mitigation of pathogenic biofilm formation

Publication date: Available online 10 May 2019Source: Methods in MicrobiologyAuthor(s): Aaron Elbourne, Vi Khanh Truong, Samuel Cheeseman, Piumie Rajapaksha, Sheeana Gangadoo, James Chapman, Russell J. CrawfordAbstractAntimicrobial resistance (AMR) has been identified as one of the greatest threats to human health (Boucher et al., 2009, Bush et al., 2011, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2013, Neu, 1992, Spellberg et al., 2008). Unfortunately, the current rise in AMR has made biofilm-related infections a primary health-care concern, since these biofilms can no longer be effectively treated using conventional antibiotic methods (Azeredo et al., 2017, Costerton et al., 1999, Tuson and Weibel, 2013). If this rise in resistance goes unchecked, a return to the “pre-biotic era” would render infections untreatable and would significantly impact current practice in surgery, intensive care, organ transplantation, neonatology and cancer treatment through major increases in morbidity and mortality (Boucher et al., 2009, Bush et al., 2011, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2013, Neu, 1992, Spellberg et al., 2008). In response, many research programs have departed from the development of new antibiotics, but have rather moved towards the exploitation of nanotechnology in the quest for next-generation methods for the prevention of biofilm formation (Elbourne et al., 2017, Tripathy et al., 2017). This change has taken place because many nanotechnologies, such as in ...

Source: Methods in Microbiology - May 11, 2019 Category: Microbiology Source Type: research