Effects of Poly-N-isopropylacrylamide Microgels Containing Antibiofilm Substances on Pseudomonas aeruginosa Isolated from Chronic Wounds

Background: Biofilm formation helps Pseudomonas ‎aeruginosa (P. ‎aeruginosa) survive in various environments. Microgels can be effective in treatment of bacterial infections. The major aim of this study was to investigate effects of poly-N-isopropyl-acrylamide microgels (PNIPAM) on P. aeruginosa. Methods: Totally‎, ‎100 P. aeruginosa strains were isolated from chronic wound infections‎. Quantitative assessments of biofilm formation and antibiotic susceptibility were carried out. Furthermore, algD, lasR, and PA2714 genes were amplified to investigate gene frequencies and expression rates. Results: Significant decreases were seen in lasR expression in EDTA-treated samples‎. Significant decreases were observed in expression of algD and lasR treated with xylitol. Decreased ‎expression of PA2714 was seen in samples treated with xylitol with no significance. ‎ Conclusion: The PNIPAM containing xylitol ‎or EDTA could penetrate biofilms of P. aeruginosa and significantly decrease expression of lasR and algD. This can be a novel strategy in the management of chronic wounds.