The anti-biofilm efficacy of copper and zinc doped borate bioactive glasses

<b>Aim:</b> Healthcare-acquired infections (HAIs) pose significant challenges in medical settings due to their resistance to conventional treatment methods. The role of bacterial biofilms in exacerbating these infections is well-documented, making HAIs particularly difficult to eradicate. Despite numerous research efforts, an effective solution to combat these infections remains elusive. This study aims to explore the potential of metal-ion (copper and zinc) doped borate bioactive glasses (BBGs) as a novel treatment modality to inhibit bacterial species commonly implicated in HAIs: <i>Staphylococcus epidermidis</i>, <i>Escherichia coli</i>, and <i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i>.<b>Methods:</b> The study analyzed the efficacy of both direct and indirect applications of BBGs on severe biofilms pre-formed under static and dynamic growth conditions; a comprehensive predictive modeling was developed, simulating diverse clinically relevant conditions.<b>Results:</b> Results demonstrate more than 4 log reduction in bacterial growth within 2 days for direct application and 3 days for indirect application of copper and zinc-doped BBGs. These findings were consistent across the three bacterial species, in both static and dynamic conditions.<b>Conclusion:</b> Copper and zinc-doped BBGs can be an effective approach in combating HAIs complicated by biofilms.