Biofilms represent one of the main challenges in modern healthcare, as their resistance to antibiotics and the host immune system significantly complicates infection treatment. This mode of bacterial growth enables microorganisms to survive under unfavourable conditions and contributes to the development of chronic and recurrent infections. Biofilm-associated infections are particularly problematic in clinical settings, where biofilms frequently form on the surfaces of medical devices such as catheters, prosthetic joints, and implants, as well as within body tissues. One of the most extensively studied and clinically significant biofilm-forming bacteria is Pseudomonas aeruginosa. This bacterium is capable of forming dense and organized biofilms that are highly resistant to a wide range of antibiotics, making it a common cause of hospital-acquired infections, especially in immunocompromised patients.
The aim of this master’s thesis was to evaluate the antibiofilm potential of compounds from chemical library provided by the Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ljubljana, and at the same time contribute to the development of a method for biofilm quantification. One of the goals was also the optimization of the method for determining the anti-biofilm activity of selected compounds. The library was tested against P. aeruginosa with the goal of identifying compounds capable of inhibiting biofilm formation. To quantify biofilm biomass, the crystal violet staining method was used, and biofilm growth was assessed by measuring absorbance at 584 nm.
The results of the screening showed that none of the tested compounds significantly inhibited biofilm formation compared to the control. Nevertheless, the study provides important insights into the behaviour of P. aeruginosa in the presence of various chemical structures, helping to explain how the bacterium responds to different compounds and why inhibiting biofilm formation remains a significant challenge. It is important to emphasize that the study successfully established a highly reliable method suitable for further testing of larger compound libraries, with great potential for the identification of new anti-biofilm agents. This also confirms the reliability of the experimental model used, although the results are less robust due to the limited compound library and single-round testing. Nevertheless, these findings are valuable for shaping future strategies in the design and evaluation of new antibiofilm agents, highlighting the need for larger libraries, repeated testing, and a better understanding of biofilm resistance mechanisms. This master’s thesis thus contributes to a deeper understanding of the challenges associated with developing effective agents against biofilm-related infections.
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