Antibacterial Activity of Boron Compounds Against Biofilm-Forming Pathogens

Biol Trace Elem Res. 2024 Jan;202(1):346-359. doi: 10.1007/s12011-023-03768-z. Epub 2023 Jul 18.

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the antibacterial activity of nine boron derivatives against biofilm-forming pathogenic bacteria. The effect of boron derivatives (CMB, calcium metaborate; SMTB, sodium metaborate tetrahydrate; ZB, zinc borate; STFB, sodium tetra fluorine borate; STB, sodium tetraborate; PTFB, potassium tetra fluor borate; APTB, ammonium pentabo-rate tetrahydrate; SPM, sodium perborate monohydrate; Borax, ATFB, ammonium tetra fluorine borate) on bacteria isolated from blood culture was determined by the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) method. Then, biofilm formation potentials on microplates, tubes, and Congo red agar were examined. The cytotoxicity of boron derivatives was determined by using WST-1-based methods. The interaction between the biofilm-forming bacteria, fibroblast cells, and boron derivatives was determined with the infection model. We found that the sodium metaborate tetrahydrate molecule was effective against all pathogens. According to the optical density values detected at 630 nm in microplates, meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus was observed to have the most substantial biofilm ability at 0.257 nm. As a result of cytotoxicity studies, it has been determined that a 1 µg/L concentration of boron derivatives is not toxic to fibroblast L929 cells. In cell culture experiments, these boron derivatives have very serious inhibitory activity against biofilm-forming pathogens in a short treatment period, such as 2-4 h. Furthermore, using these molecules on inanimate surfaces affected by biofilms would be appropriate instead of living cells.

Keywords: Antibacterial activity; Biofilm; Boron derivatives; Cell culture; Minimum inhibitory concentration.

MeSH terms

  • Ammonium Compounds* / pharmacology
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology
  • Bacteria
  • Biofilms
  • Borates / pharmacology
  • Boron / pharmacology
  • Boron Compounds / pharmacology
  • Fluorine / pharmacology
  • Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus*
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests

Substances

  • sodium borate
  • borax
  • ammonium borate
  • Borates
  • Boron
  • Fluorine
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Boron Compounds
  • Ammonium Compounds