» Articles » PMID: 24997588

Detection and Quantification of Bacterial Biofilms Combining High-frequency Acoustic Microscopy and Targeted Lipid Microparticles

Overview
Publisher Biomed Central
Specialty Biotechnology
Date 2014 Jul 7
PMID 24997588
Citations 12
Authors
Affiliations
Soon will be listed here.
Abstract

Background: Immuno-compromised patients such as those undergoing cancer chemotherapy are susceptible to bacterial infections leading to biofilm matrix formation. This surrounding biofilm matrix acts as a diffusion barrier that binds up antibiotics and antibodies, promoting resistance to treatment. Developing non-invasive imaging methods that detect biofilm matrix in the clinic are needed. The use of ultrasound in conjunction with targeted ultrasound contrast agents (UCAs) may provide detection of early stage biofilm matrix formation and facilitate optimal treatment.

Results: Ligand-targeted UCAs were investigated as a novel method for pre-clinical non-invasive molecular imaging of early and late stage biofilms. These agents were used to target, image and detect Staphylococcus aureus biofilm matrix in vitro. Binding efficacy was assessed on biofilm matrices with respect to their increasing biomass ranging from 3.126 × 103 ± 427 UCAs per mm(2) of biofilm surface area within 12 h to 21.985 × 103 ± 855 per mm(2) of biofilm matrix surface area at 96 h. High-frequency acoustic microscopy was used to ultrasonically detect targeted UCAs bound to a biofilm matrix and to assess biofilm matrix mechanoelastic physical properties. Acoustic impedance data demonstrated that biofilm matrices exhibit impedance values (1.9 MRayl) close to human tissue (1.35 - 1.85 MRayl for soft tissues). Moreover, the acoustic signature of mature biofilm matrices were evaluated in terms of integrated backscatter (0.0278 - 0.0848 mm(-1) × sr(-1)) and acoustic attenuation (3.9 Np/mm for bound UCAs; 6.58 Np/mm for biofilm alone).

Conclusions: Early diagnosis of biofilm matrix formation is a challenge in treating cancer patients with infection-associated biofilms. We report for the first time a combined optical and acoustic evaluation of infectious biofilm matrices. We demonstrate that acoustic impedance of biofilms is similar to the impedance of human tissues, making in vivo imaging and detection of biofilm matrices difficult. The combination of ultrasound and targeted UCAs can be used to enhance biofilm imaging and early detection. Our findings suggest that the combination of targeted UCAs and ultrasound is a novel molecular imaging technique for the detection of biofilms. We show that high-frequency acoustic microscopy provides sufficient spatial resolution for quantification of biofilm mechanoelastic properties.

Citing Articles

Pyogenic spondylitis caused by : A case report and literature review.

Zou L, Qian J, Bian Z, Wang X, Xie T World J Clin Cases. 2023; 11(15):3583-3591.

PMID: 37383891 PMC: 10294177. DOI: 10.12998/wjcc.v11.i15.3583.


Understanding bacterial biofilms: From definition to treatment strategies.

Zhao A, Sun J, Liu Y Front Cell Infect Microbiol. 2023; 13:1137947.

PMID: 37091673 PMC: 10117668. DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1137947.


Advances in non-invasive biosensing measures to monitor wound healing progression.

Short W, Olutoye 2nd O, Padon B, Parikh U, Colchado D, Vangapandu H Front Bioeng Biotechnol. 2022; 10:952198.

PMID: 36213059 PMC: 9539744. DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2022.952198.


Aptamer-Targeted Drug Delivery for Biofilm.

Ommen P, Hansen L, Hansen B, Vu-Quang H, Kjems J, Meyer R Front Cell Infect Microbiol. 2022; 12:814340.

PMID: 35573794 PMC: 9104115. DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.814340.


PLGA/xylitol nanoparticles enhance antibiofilm activity penetration into biofilm extracellular polymeric substances.

Anjum A, Chung P, Ng S RSC Adv. 2022; 9(25):14198-14208.

PMID: 35519311 PMC: 9064039. DOI: 10.1039/c9ra00125e.


References
1.
Phillips L, Klibanov A, Wamhoff B, Hossack J . Intravascular ultrasound detection and delivery of molecularly targeted microbubbles for gene delivery. IEEE Trans Ultrason Ferroelectr Freq Control. 2012; 59(7):1596-601. DOI: 10.1109/TUFFC.2012.2359. View

2.
Schneewind O, Fowler A, Faull K . Structure of the cell wall anchor of surface proteins in Staphylococcus aureus. Science. 1995; 268(5207):103-6. DOI: 10.1126/science.7701329. View

3.
Furuya E, Lowy F . Antimicrobial strategies for the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular infections. Curr Opin Pharmacol. 2003; 3(5):464-9. DOI: 10.1016/j.coph.2003.05.004. View

4.
Liang H, Blomley M . The role of ultrasound in molecular imaging. Br J Radiol. 2004; 76 Spec No 2:S140-50. DOI: 10.1259/bjr/57063872. View

5.
Good M, Wend C, Bond L, McLean J, Panetta P, Ahmed S . An estimate of biofilm properties using an acoustic microscope. IEEE Trans Ultrason Ferroelectr Freq Control. 2006; 53(9):1637-48. DOI: 10.1109/tuffc.2006.1678192. View