Development of new active substances to prevent biofilm formation on regenerative and synthetic tissue implants

Generally speaking, the formation of a biofilm means the attachment of micro-organisms to surfaces and the subsequent development of multiple cell layers. Staphylococcus epidermidis in particular is capable of cultivating a biofilm on a wide variety of plastic surfaces (polymer-associated infections), which is why this pathogen has a large impact on surgical medicine. The increase in infections caused by S. epidermidis is directly related to the growing number of immunosuppressed patients in hospitals and the use of what’s known as biomaterials (catheters, fluid lines, heart valves, pacemakers and artificial limbs, etc.). After inserting these implants, post-operative colonisation by S. epidermidis developing to chronic proportions is common. The bacteria are very often multiresistant and treatment with antibiotics is very rarely an option. To ensure a complete recovery, it is generally necessary to remove the implant, which in turn delays the regenerative-biological process of wound healing and entails immense costs in the healthcare system.
Molecular biological studies have shown that the first step in biofilm formation is the attachment of bacterial cells to the plastic surface. Next the cells reproduce and a protective sugar polymer layer is discharged which completely surrounds the cells like a mucus and enables the formation of thick layers of cells. As part of this BioProfile project, natural substances of microbial origin are being developed to act as potential active substances to prevent the formation of biofilm through S. epidermis and to be utilised for screenings in biofilm-specific assays.

SOURCON-PADENA has a wealth of expertise in the field of isolating new micro-organisms that up till now were considered unisolable. The development of new isolation methods means it is now possible to make active substance producers available very efficiently. Through the parallel establishment of innovative cultivation methods, these “rare actinomycetes” are not only isolable, but can also be cultivated and produce innovative, biologically active substances. Maximum availability of the natural substances, which can be utilised directly in enzyme assays and automated screening due to their high quality, is ensured through a special, patented method for extracting microbial cultures.

DR. PETRY genmedics GMBH has a great deal of experience in biofilm research and has developed a simple and effective detection method. An automated procedure is used to examine the natural substance extracts from SOURCON PADENA for their ability to hamper biofilm formation. A cellular detection method is already available for this and an enzymatic method is being developed which will examine the inhibition of an enzyme jointly responsible for the formation of biofilm.

Synthesising biofilm to combat pathogenic bacteria represents a completely innovative approach to finding new active substances. Destroying the organisms, an approach which can lead to the development of increased resistance, is not the primary goal. The aim is to prevent bacterial colonisation of regenerative tissue and synthetic tissue implants. Substances which inhibit the formation of bacterial biofilm reduce polymer-associated infections and thus encourage the regeneration of tissue in the implant area.