In Vitro Models of Bacterial Biofilms: Innovative Tools to Improve Understanding and Treatment of Infections
Bacterial infections are a growing concern to the health care systems. Bacteria in the human body are often found embedded in a dense 3D structure, the biofilm, which makes their eradication even more challenging. Indeed, bacteria in biofilm are protected from external hazards and are more prone to...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-02-01
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| Series: | Nanomaterials |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/13/5/904 |
| _version_ | 1797614672731439104 |
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| author | G. Crivello L. Fracchia G. Ciardelli M. Boffito C. Mattu |
| author_facet | G. Crivello L. Fracchia G. Ciardelli M. Boffito C. Mattu |
| author_sort | G. Crivello |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Bacterial infections are a growing concern to the health care systems. Bacteria in the human body are often found embedded in a dense 3D structure, the biofilm, which makes their eradication even more challenging. Indeed, bacteria in biofilm are protected from external hazards and are more prone to develop antibiotic resistance. Moreover, biofilms are highly heterogeneous, with properties dependent on the bacteria species, the anatomic localization, and the nutrient/flow conditions. Therefore, antibiotic screening and testing would strongly benefit from reliable <i>in vitro</i> models of bacterial biofilms. This review article summarizes the main features of biofilms, with particular focus on parameters affecting biofilm composition and mechanical properties. Moreover, a thorough overview of the in vitro biofilm models recently developed is presented, focusing on both traditional and advanced approaches. Static, dynamic, and microcosm models are described, and their main features, advantages, and disadvantages are compared and discussed. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T07:15:39Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-902af29598864edaa03519304dc1c858 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2079-4991 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T07:15:39Z |
| publishDate | 2023-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nanomaterials |
| spelling | doaj.art-902af29598864edaa03519304dc1c8582023-11-17T08:18:07ZengMDPI AGNanomaterials2079-49912023-02-0113590410.3390/nano13050904In Vitro Models of Bacterial Biofilms: Innovative Tools to Improve Understanding and Treatment of InfectionsG. Crivello0L. Fracchia1G. Ciardelli2M. Boffito3C. Mattu4Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Politecnico di Torino, C.so Duca degli Abruzzi 24, 10129 Torino, ItalyDepartment of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Università del Piemonte Orientale “A. Avogadro”, Largo Donegani 2, 28100 Novara, ItalyDepartment of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Politecnico di Torino, C.so Duca degli Abruzzi 24, 10129 Torino, ItalyDepartment of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Politecnico di Torino, C.so Duca degli Abruzzi 24, 10129 Torino, ItalyDepartment of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Politecnico di Torino, C.so Duca degli Abruzzi 24, 10129 Torino, ItalyBacterial infections are a growing concern to the health care systems. Bacteria in the human body are often found embedded in a dense 3D structure, the biofilm, which makes their eradication even more challenging. Indeed, bacteria in biofilm are protected from external hazards and are more prone to develop antibiotic resistance. Moreover, biofilms are highly heterogeneous, with properties dependent on the bacteria species, the anatomic localization, and the nutrient/flow conditions. Therefore, antibiotic screening and testing would strongly benefit from reliable <i>in vitro</i> models of bacterial biofilms. This review article summarizes the main features of biofilms, with particular focus on parameters affecting biofilm composition and mechanical properties. Moreover, a thorough overview of the in vitro biofilm models recently developed is presented, focusing on both traditional and advanced approaches. Static, dynamic, and microcosm models are described, and their main features, advantages, and disadvantages are compared and discussed.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/13/5/904biofilm modelsinfectionbacteria3D printingmicrofluidicsmicrocosm models |
| spellingShingle | G. Crivello L. Fracchia G. Ciardelli M. Boffito C. Mattu In Vitro Models of Bacterial Biofilms: Innovative Tools to Improve Understanding and Treatment of Infections Nanomaterials biofilm models infection bacteria 3D printing microfluidics microcosm models |
| title | In Vitro Models of Bacterial Biofilms: Innovative Tools to Improve Understanding and Treatment of Infections |
| title_full | In Vitro Models of Bacterial Biofilms: Innovative Tools to Improve Understanding and Treatment of Infections |
| title_fullStr | In Vitro Models of Bacterial Biofilms: Innovative Tools to Improve Understanding and Treatment of Infections |
| title_full_unstemmed | In Vitro Models of Bacterial Biofilms: Innovative Tools to Improve Understanding and Treatment of Infections |
| title_short | In Vitro Models of Bacterial Biofilms: Innovative Tools to Improve Understanding and Treatment of Infections |
| title_sort | in vitro models of bacterial biofilms innovative tools to improve understanding and treatment of infections |
| topic | biofilm models infection bacteria 3D printing microfluidics microcosm models |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/13/5/904 |
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