Spontaneous detachment of Streptococcus mutans biofilm by synergistic effect between zwitterion and sugar alcohol.

ABSTRACT: A biofilm, a community of microorganisms, is highly resistant to antibiotics, resulting in massive losses in various areas. We herein present a strategy to remove Streptococcus mutans biofilms through a spontaneous exfoliation by the synergistic effect between zwitterion and sugar alcohols. It is assumed that the anionic site of zwitterion can be coupled with sugar alcohols and the cationic site remains in the state of lacking electrons. The cationic site allows the complexes to be delivered to negatively charged exopolysaccharides of biofilms. This strategy facilitates a significant increase in the ability of sugar alcohols to disperse aggregated exopolysaccharides. In this work, it was demonstrated that the mixture of betaine and erythritol existed as a complex in water and that the comp

SUBMITTER: Lim JH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5556044 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature