Slime-busting Salt

Biofilms are made of bacteria and secreted proteins, DNA, and sugars that together create a slimelike substance that helps them adhere to one another and to a surface.
Los Alamos scientists and collaborators have shown that an innocuous substance, a molten salt called choline-geranate, can physically disrupt biofilms and facilitate drug delivery. Biofilms are made from secreted proteins, DNA, and sugars, together making a slimelike substance that helps bacteria adhere to one another and to a surface. They provide a secure environment that protects the organisms from dangers—especially antibiotics. The new approach using a molten salt holds great promise for treating these difficult infections as it has been shown to disrupt biofilms effectively to deliver treatment and even acts as an antimicrobial agent itself.
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