Evaluation of the Anti-Biofilm Effects of Biosurfactants and Silver Nanoparticles on Biomaterials Surfaces

Abstract

Orthopedic implants are subject to chronic biofilm-associated infections bacteria, which can only be eradicated by traumatic implant removal accompanied by intravenous antibiotic therapy. Alternatives have been moving towards treating the surface of these materials biosurfactants to inhibit bacterial adhesion on surfaces of these implants. Biosurfactants (BS), surfactant compounds produced by microorganisms, are molecules that have a hydrophilic region, and another therefore reduce the interfacial tension between two surfaces by changing the properties of the surfaces with which they come in contact. In this work, the ability to reduce the formation of biofilms in orthopedic implants by the action of biosurfactants with and without the addition of silver nanoparticles was evaluated. Was observed that for biofilms formed by S. aureus, E. coli and E. cloacae up to 72% inhibition of biofilm formation was achieved with the use of ramnolipids on the surface of the implant parts.