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Patricia Bondia, Cristina Flors and Joaquim Torra (Madrid Institute for Advanced Studies in Nanoscience (IMDEA nanoscience), Ciudad Universitaria de Cantoblanco. Faraday 9, 28049, Madrid, Spain)
Biofilms are communities of microbial cells embedded in a self-produced matrix of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) that account for 80 % of pathogenic infections in humans. Biofilms are generally highly resistant to antibiotic treatments, owing mainly to the mechanical barrier of EPS that blocks and/or quenches the activity of antimicrobial agents, and to alterations in gene expression. Thus, alternative strategies are required to effectively combat biofilm infections. Antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) relies on the light irradiation of photoactive drugs to locally produce highly reactive oxygen species that oxidizes cellular components causing cell death. In this work, we explore the antibiofilm ability of a multi-targeted photosensitizer (PS) able to bind to bacterial membrane and key structural components of the biofilm matrix such as amyloid fibers, achieving a 6-log reduction in bacterial population. Additionally, we test aPDT in combination with conventional antibiotics and report a synergistic effect, providing powerful tools to eradicate biofilms.