Nisin Incorporated With 2,3-Dihydroxybenzoic Acid in Nanofibers Inhibits Biofilm Formation by a Methicillin-Resistant Strain of Staphylococcus aureus

The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of nisin, 2,3-dihydroxybenzoic acid (DHBA) and a combination of nisin and DHBA incorporated into nanofibers prepared from poly(D,L-lactide) (PDLLA) and poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) on biofilm formation of a methicillin-resistant strain of Staphylococcus aureus (strain Xen 31). Biofilm formation decreased by 88 % after 24 h of exposure to nanofibers containing nisin and DHBA (NDF), compared to a 63 % decrease when exposed to nanofibers containing only DHBA (DF) and a 3 % decrease when exposed to nanofibers containing only nisin (NF). Planktonic cell numbers of biofilms exposed to nanofibers without nisin or DHBA (CF) and NF increased from no detectable OD595nm readings to 0.35 and 0.3, respectively, within the first 8 h of exposure, followed by a steady decline over the following 16 h. Planktonic cells of biofilms treated with DF increased from no detectable OD595nm readings to 0.05 after 8 h of exposure and remained more-or-less constant for the duration of the experiment. Planktonic cells of biofilms exposed to NDF increased from OD595nm 0.03 after 8 h of exposure and to 0.2 over the following 16 h. Biofilm formation increased with increasing concentrations of FeCl3 center dot 6H(2)O, which suggests that iron is required for S. aureus Xen 31 to form a biofilm. However, when exposed to NDF, biofilm formation decreased significantly in the presence of increasing concentrations of iron. This suggests that NDF may be used to prevent biofilm formation of MRSA and control infection.