“Staphylococci epidermis biofilms have been found to be markedly impaired by very low, non-inhibitory levels of silver ions.
This is important news, since biofilms give communities of microorganisms a distinct ability to resist antibiotic drugs.
If low levels of silver ions can impair biofilms, then its use may well help resolve one factor in the growing problem of
antibiotic-resistant microorganisms. The studies on the intermolecular forces within the EPSs of S. epidermidis and
S. epidermidis biofilms suggest that the silver ions can destabilize the biofilm matrix by binding to electron donor groups
of the biological molecules. This leads to reductions in the number of binding sites for hydrogen bonds and electrostatic and
hydrophobic interactions and, hence, the destabilization of the biofilm structure. After the addition of silver ions and within
60 min of contact, the overall structure of the biofilm became partially destroyed and the inner structure of biofilm was exposed.
There were also significant amounts of silver around the damaged biofilm colony, confirming the effect of silver ions on grown biofilm.”