f
    

Although many antimicrobial agents are currently available for the treatment of microbial infections, the emergence and spreading of antibiotic-resistant microorganisms is a global problem. To overcome this issue, we must explore the use of alternative antimicrobial agents, including naturally-derived agents. In this project, biopolymer-antibiotic, biopolymer-flavonoid, biopolymer-antibiotic-flavonoid composite coatings will be deposited onto assays by matrix assisted pulsed laser evaporation (MAPLE) using a pulsed KrF* excimer laser source (λ = 248 nm, τ = 25 ns, ν = 10 Hz). FTIR spectroscopy will be used to demonstrate that MAPLE-transferred materials exhibit chemical properties similar to those of the starting materials. Atomic force microscopy will confirm that MAPLE may be used to fabricate thin films with appropriate surface properties for medical use. The activity of flavonoid-containing films against both Gram- + and Gram- – bacteria will be examined using in vitro biological assays. The biological properties to be tested include the microbial viability and adherence to the flavonoid-containing films, using Gram - and Gram + bacterial strains with known antibiotic susceptibility behavior, the microbial adherence to the HeLa cells monolayer grown on the of flavonoid-containing coating, and the cytotoxicity on eukariotic cells. Our specific goal is to evaluate these results in comparison to biopolymer-silver nanoparticle coatings as controls. The proposed system could be used for the development of novel antimicrobial materials or strategies for fighting medical biofilm pathogens frequently implicated in the etiology of biofilm associated chronic infections.