You have full access to this open access article. High spatial resolution mass spectrometry imaging has been identified as a key technology needed to improve understanding of the chemical components that influence antibiotic resistance within biofilms, which are communities of micro-organisms that grow attached to a surface.
Time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry ToF—SIMS offers the unique ability for label-free 3D imaging of organic molecules with sub-micrometer spatial resolution and high sensitivity.
Several studies of biofilms have been done with the help of ToF—SIMS, but none of those studies have shown 3D imaging of antibiotics in native-state hydrated biofilms with cell-level resolution. Because ToF—SIMS measurements must be performed in a high-vacuum environment, cryogenic preparation and analysis are necessary to preserve the native biofilm structure and antibiotic spatial distribution during ToF—SIMS measurements.
In this study, we have investigated the penetration of the antibiotic ciprofloxacin into Bacillus subtilis biofilms using sub-micrometer resolution 3D imaging cryo-ToF—SIMS.
Biofilms are communities of microorganisms which grow attached to a surface and are embedded in a self-produced extracellular polymeric substance EPS mainly composed of polysaccharides, proteins and extracellular DNA. Microbial biofilms can cause severe health problems such as persistent medical device associated infections and delays in wound healing.
