Establishing Probiotic Biofilm on Organic Wound Matrices: A Potential Step Towards Innovative Treatment of Pathogenic Biofilm

Poster Title: Establishing Probiotic Biofilm on Organic Wound Matrices: A Potential Step Towards Innovative Treatment of Pathogenic Biofilm 

Student: Abigail Peoples, Class of 2023

Faculty Mentor and Department: Nicole Levi, PhD, Adam Katz, MD

Funding Source: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery 

ABSTRACT

Background: Development of biofilm involves the aggregation of microorganisms into a cohesive community that protects them and facilitates their adherence to materials. Pathogenic biofilm can adhere to chronic wounds and implantable surgical devices. Infections due to pathogenic biofilms are difficult to treat because they make antibiotics less effective. Understanding and treating pathogenic biofilm is important for developing innovative treatments for chronic wounds and surgical site infections. Probiotic species of bacteria and their cellular products may be clinically useful for the prevention and treatment of pathogenic biofilm. Our goal is to establish probiotic biofilm on organic materials as an initial step towards investigating the localized delivery of probiotic benefits to sites at risk of infection.

Hypothesis: Probiotic biofilms of Lactobacillus rhamnosus and Lactobacillus plantarum can be established on ACell^® Gentrix^® Surgical Matrix and Drawtex LevaFiber™.

Methods: ACell^® Gentrix^® Surgical Matrix is a biologic material utilized for reinforcement of soft tissues. It is a two-layer acellular porcine bladder derived matrix that contains a basement membrane layer and a lamina propria layer. Drawtex LevaFiber™ Dressing is a highly absorbent alginate dressing that purports to absorb wound exudate via capillary, hydrostatic, and electrostatic action. 

ACell^® and LevaFiber™ materials were cut into uniform 5mm discs via punch biopsy. Discs were submerged in nutrient broth containing either L. rhamnosus or L. plantarum (OD600 = 0.1), and statically incubated for 48hrs. Supernatant was removed and discs were washed with sterile water and mechanically agitated to disrupt adherent biofilm. The disrupted biofilm solution was serially diluted, plated onto De Man, Rogosa and Sharpe (MRS) agar, incubated for 48hrs and then the colony forming units (CFUs) were counted.

Results: ACell^® incubated with L.  rhamnosus grew 3.1 x 10⁷ CFUs/mL and ACell^® incubated with L. plantarum grew 2.1 x 10⁷ CFUs/mL. LevaFiber™ incubated in L. rhamnosus grew 1.1 x 10⁸ CFUs/mL and LevaFiber™ incubated with L. plantarum grew 2.5 x 10⁷ CFUs/mL. 

Conclusions: Probiotic biofilms of L. rhamnosus and L. plantarum can be established on ACell^® Gentrix^® Surgical Matrix and Drawtex LevaFiber™ Wound Dressing. Futures studies will evaluate the potential of probiotic biofilms grown on ACell^® or LevaFiber™ as a means to prevent and/or disrupt pathogenic biofilm formation and bacterial proliferation. 

Source of mentor’s funding or other support that funded this research: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery