Didecyldimethylammonium bromide: Application to control biofilms of Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa alone and in combination with slightly acidic electrolyzed water

Abstract

This project explored the antibacterial mechanism of didecyldimethylammonium bromide (DDAB) toward Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and its removal effect on biofilms. Furthermore, we explored the effect of treatment by DDAB combined with slightly acidic electrolyzed water (SAEW) on biofilms of S. aureus or P. aeruginosa. First, DDAB has bacteriostatic and biofilm removal effects. Second, The effect of DDAB combined with SAEW on biofilm is more obvious than that of the two alone. DDAB at a concentration of 16 MIC combined with SAEW (ACC 30 mg/L, ORP 875 mV, pH 6.30) completely cleared the biofilm. In addition, the results of Confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM), Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and Attenuated total reflection–Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) showed that DDAB combined with SAEW could disrupt the structure of biofilms, reduce polysaccharides, proteins and phospholipids in biofilms. This method has the potential to be used in food production chains to control S. aureus and P. aeruginosa and their biofilms, and it can be used in other industries.