Silver-zinc redox-coupled electroceutical wound dressing disrupts bacterial biofilm

PLoS One. 2015 Mar 24;10(3):e0119531. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0119531. eCollection 2015.

Abstract

Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm is commonly associated with chronic wound infection. A FDA approved wireless electroceutical dressing (WED), which in the presence of conductive wound exudate gets activated to generate electric field (0.3-0.9V), was investigated for its anti-biofilm properties. Growth of pathogenic P. aeruginosa strain PAO1 in LB media was markedly arrested in the presence of the WED. Scanning electron microscopy demonstrated that WED markedly disrupted biofilm integrity in a setting where silver dressing was ineffective. Biofilm thickness and number of live bacterial cells were decreased in the presence of WED. Quorum sensing genes lasR and rhlR and activity of electric field sensitive enzyme, glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase was also repressed by WED. This work provides first electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy evidence demonstrating that WED serves as a spontaneous source of reactive oxygen species. Redox-sensitive multidrug efflux systems mexAB and mexEF were repressed by WED. Taken together, these observations provide first evidence supporting the anti-biofilm properties of WED.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / administration & dosage
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / chemistry
  • Bandages*
  • Biofilms / drug effects*
  • Biofilms / growth & development
  • Electric Stimulation Therapy / instrumentation
  • Electric Stimulation Therapy / methods*
  • Electron Spin Resonance Spectroscopy
  • Glycerolphosphate Dehydrogenase / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Oxidation-Reduction
  • Pseudomonas aeruginosa / drug effects*
  • Pseudomonas aeruginosa / physiology
  • Quorum Sensing
  • Silver / administration & dosage*
  • Silver / chemistry
  • Wound Infection / metabolism
  • Wound Infection / therapy*
  • Zinc / administration & dosage*
  • Zinc / chemistry

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Silver
  • Glycerolphosphate Dehydrogenase
  • Zinc