Microbial biofilms are intricate and dynamic three-dimensional structures composed of sessile cells and an extracellular matrix containing a complex network of water channels. Their heterogeneous and variable composition, architecture, and dynamic structures confer an intrinsically high resistance to antimicrobial agents that is at least 100-1000 times greater than that of their planktonic counterparts. Antimicrobial resistance in microbial biofilms is a significant public health concern and presents numerous challenges. Biofilms are responsible for at least two-thirds of all chronic infections, leading to increased healthcare expenses. The World Health Organization has identified this problem as one of its top priorities due to the limited effectiveness of current treatments. However, the number of newly developed and approved antimicrobial drugs has declined in recent decades.

Developing novel therapeutics, innovative techniques, and safe and effective alternative therapies are crucial to combat microbial biofilm-associated infections. In recent years, several novel antibiofilm compounds capable of combating biofilms have been discovered, and several alternative approaches have been proposed to prevent biofilm formation or biofilm dispersal to eliminate mature biofilms.

Biofilms could be controlled by the use of antibiofilm inhibitors and therapeutic methods that directly target the biofilm formation process including surface attachment and biofilm maturation. Recent methods use anti-quorum sensing molecules, synthetic small organic molecules, secondary metabolites, antibiofilm peptides, cell lysis inducing compounds, matrix-degrading enzymes for biofilm dispersal, phage therapy and CRISPR-Cas 9, photodynamic therapy, as well as biomaterials, such as various nanoparticles and nanomaterials for coatings on medical devices, use as carriers for drug delivery with nanotechnology-enhanced hyaluronic acid, and for vaccines.

Further, advances in silico analysis have provided a platform for rapidly identifying pathogenic strains and the potential development of targeted therapeutics. Studies utilizing Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) have contributed to the characterization of silver nanoparticles, copper ferrites, and other materials with excellent biocompatibility, which present a promising approach in the development of cystic fibrosis treatments, even within extreme environments where traditional therapies fail.

In this Research Topic, we aim to explore and highlight recent developments in antimicrobial and antibiofilm strategies, with a particular focus on novel therapeutics and their mechanisms of action. We encourage the submission of original research articles, systematic reviews, methods articles, reviews, perspectives, and brief research reports including (but not limited to) the following subthemes:

• novel therapeutics to control or eliminate microbial biofilms on both abiotic and biotic surfaces
• challenges and prospects for with biofilm-preventive or biofilm-disrupting agents for biofilm management
• new strategies in drug delivery systems and in situ drug delivery approaches for efficient administration of antibiofilm agents to overcome barriers to drug penetration within biofilms
• nanotechnology, including metal and metal oxide nanoparticles, liposomes, micro- and nanoemulsions, polymeric nanoparticles and next-generation nanosystems to combat biofilm-associated multidrug resistance
• strategies to target and eradicate persister cells and their relationship to antibiofilm treatment
• new strategies to enhance the activity of conventional agents against biofilms including by using novel and approved agents for improved biofilm control
• novel anti-biofilm treatment regimens including in vitro and in vivo studies that may facilitate future anti-biofilm therapy.

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Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology

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