Author(s): Owen Cramer, Jenny Finlinson, Lucy Bowden
Mentor(s): Brad Berges
Institution BYU
Biofilm formation by bacteria like Pseudomonas aeruginosa presents a significant challenge in medical and industrial contexts. Biofilms allow bacteria to adhere to surfaces, resist treatments, and persist even in harsh environments, evading immune detection and elimination. This contributes to chronic infections, particularly in patients with implanted medical devices. Traditional approaches, such as chemical sterilization and antibiotic treatments, aim to control bacterial presence. Chemical sterilization involves the application of disinfectants such as hydrogen peroxide to kill free-floating bacteria, but biofilms often exhibit resistance to these agents. Antibiotic treatments, although efficacious against individual bacterial cells, are less successful against established biofilms, which can act as barriers to drug penetration. Furthermore, the overuse of antibiotics risks fostering resistant bacterial strains. These limitations highlight the need for novel and more effective solutions to biofilm prevention. This project addresses the critical need to prevent biofilm formation, a significant obstacle in treating infections, particularly in medical settings. Developing a physical surface modification, such as CNTs, that inhibits biofilm growth offers a promising alternative to chemical sterilization and antibiotics. This could enhance the longevity and safety of medical devices, reducing infection rates and contributing to better patient outcomes.