Environmentally friendly antibiofilm strategy based on cationized phytoglycogen nanoparticles

In this study, we investigate the potential of polysaccharidic phytoglycogen nanoparticles extracted from corn, in treating cyanobacterial biofilms, which are the source of toxins and pollution in aquatic environments. Our results revealed that the surface of cyanobacterial cells was dominated by the negatively charged functional groups such as carboxylic and phosphoric groups. The native phytoglycogen (PhX) nanoparticles were dominated with non-charged groups, such as hydroxyl groups, and the cationized phytoglycogen (PhXC) nanoparticles showed positively charged surfaces due to the presence of quaternary ammonium cations. Our results indicated that, as opposed to PhX, PhXC strongly inhibited biofilm formation when dispersed in the culture medium. PhXC also eradicated the already grown cyanobacterial biofilms. The antibiofilm properties of PhXC were attributed to its strong electrostatic interactions with the cyanobacterial cells, which could inhibit cell/cell and cell/substrate interactions and nutrient exchange with the media. This class of antibacterial polysaccharide nanoparticles may provide a novel cost-effective and environment-friendly strategy for treating biofilm formation by a broad spectrum of bacteria.PMID:34371317 | DOI:10.1016/j.colsurfb.2021.111975
Source: Colloids and Surfaces - Category: Biotechnology Authors: Source Type: research