Chitosan–saccharide conjugates for eradication of Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms

A series of six conjugates containing similar proportions of cationic and sugar moieties were synthesized by direct modification of the chitosan backbone using a method that is highly efficient and reproducible. The conjugates showed a bactericidal effect against both Gram positive and Gram negative bacterial strains. An investigation into the antibiofilm activity of the conjugates revealed the optimum combination of the type and positioning of the functionalities that were highly effective in eradicating Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms. 2D and 3D imaging of the conjugatetreated biofilms using confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) allowed us to determine that the conjugates not only acted on the surface but also dispersed into deep layers of the biofilm.