Penetration of an antimicrobial zinc-sugar alcohol complex into Streptococcus mutans biofilms.

ABSTRACT: Mature biofilms are highly resistant to antimicrobial agents due to the presence of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), which inhibit the penetration of external molecules. In this study, we developed a coordination compound consisting of zinc chloride and erythritol that exhibits penetrating and bactericidal activity against Streptococcus mutans biofilms. An in vitro biofilm model was established in microplates, and bactericidal activity against biofilms was evaluated using an Alamar blue assay. The cause of the antimicrobial activity of the zinc-erythritol mixture on mature biofilms was demonstrated using fast atom bombardment-mass spectrometry, confocal laser scanning microscopy and atomic force microscopy. We demonstrated that zinc chloride spontaneously formed cationic complexes

SUBMITTER: Lim JH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6212478 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature