Anti-adhesive surfaces and molecules to mitigate initial steps of biofilm formation

The prevention of biofilm formation is an urgent challenge in both clinical and industrial environments due to the persistent nature of surface-associated microbial communities. Biofilms begin with the initial attachment of microbes to a surface, a reversible but pivotal stage that dictates whether a biofilm will mature and become resistant to standard cleaning or treatment strategies. Traditional antimicrobial coatings, while valuable, are often undermined by the development of resistance, leading to decreased effectiveness over time. In contrast, anti-adhesive surfaces and molecular interventions offer the possibility of minimizing microbial colonization without exerting selective pressure for resistance. Recent research has explored a range of physicochemical surface treatments and molecular strategies, including hydrophilic polymer coatings, micro- and nanoscale topographies, and receptor-mimetic molecules, aimed at interfering with the earliest events in biofilm development. However, questions remain regarding the optimization of these approaches, their robustness across different settings, and their mechanistic bases for efficacy.This Research Topic aims to drive interdisciplinary research into strategies that impede microbial attachment to surfaces, thereby mitigating biofilm formation at its earliest stages. The goal is to foster a deeper mechanistic understanding of how surface properties and anti-adhesive molecules modulate microbial behavior, and to bridge these insights into the rational development of scalable interventions. Specifically, we encourage submissions that elucidate the relationship between surface engineering features or molecular characteristics and measured reductions in microbial adhesion and biofilm biomass. Studies employing quantitative, standardized methods to assess anti-adhesive efficacy across different substrates and under realistic operational conditions are particularly welcome. By merging expertise in microbiology, surface chemistry, materials science, and computational modeling, this initiative aims to define universal design rules and validation protocols, ultimately facilitating the translation of laboratory innovations to practical solutions for medical and industrial applications.The scope of this Research Topic encompasses novel and established anti-adhesive strategies that target the initial steps of microbial colonization, explicitly excluding approaches centered on traditional biocidal or purely antimicrobial effects. We welcome contributions addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:o Design and synthesis of anti-adhesive molecules, such as zwitterionic, amphiphilic, receptor-mimetic, and quorum-interfering agentso Surface modifications and coatings, including new materialso Mechanistic investigations into factors affecting microbial attachment, including the role of interfacial hydration and conditioning layerso Quantitative methods for evaluating anti-adhesive performance in realistic modelso Comparative studies vis-à-vis antimicrobial or dual-function coatings, including adaptation and resistance riskso Computational modeling, machine learning, or high-throughput screening approaches for predicting and optimizing anti-adhesive efficacy Topic editors: Sandra Nunes Pinto, Ashwini Chauhan Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/77865/anti-adhesive-surfaces-and-molecules-to-mitigate-initial-steps-of-biofilm-formation