Python scales host microstructures that block bacterial biofilms—revealing potential for antimicrobial materials

Materials inspired by nature, or biomimetic materials, are nothing new. Scientists have designed water-resistant materials inspired by lotus leaves and rose petals, unsinkable metals based on the air-trapping, buoyant abilities of fire ants and diving bell spiders, and even Velcro was inspired by the sticky burrs from burdock plants. Now, a new study published in ACS Omega has taken a closer look at the biofilm-resistant abilities of python skin, which may have valuable applications in medical devices and industrial surfaces.

Biofilms and antibiotic resistance

Antibiotic resistance is an increasingly common problem, mostly due to the overuse of antibiotics in medicine and agriculture. Bacteria that create biofilms tend to be even more resistant to antibiotics.

These biofilms are slimy masses of bacteria encased in a self-produced, protective matrix called extracellular polymeric substance (EPS). They are highly resistant to antibiotics and chemical disinfectants, making infections and contamination hard to control.

Researchers have been busy searching for ways to control bacterial biofilms and overcome antibiotic resistance. One way to do this might involve the use of physical surfaces that can inhibit bacterial adhesion and growth.

Some previous research has shown that micro- and nanoscale surface features may be able to reduce bacterial attachment. For example, the wings of certain insects and shark skin have inspired some biomimetic antimicrobial surfaces, but the optimal feature dimensions and mechanisms remain unclear.

“Recent research has demonstrated that micro- and nanoscale surface architecture can modulate bacterial attachment and biofilm formation, motivating the development of antibiotic-free, biomimetic antimicrobial surfaces,” explain the authors of the new study.

“Depending on geometry and materials, topographic strategies may act primarily by reducing initial adhesion (antifouling/antiadhesive) or by contact-active effects that can damage cells mechanically; however, the reported efficacy and proposed mechanisms vary widely across studies and experimental conditions.”

Microstructures that ward off bacterial biofilms

The dorsal scales of the ball python (Python regius) might offer a new physical solution for bacterial resistance. Analysis of the structure and composition of these scales has revealed sharp, regularly spaced microprotrusions—or, very tiny spikes—along the surface. The researchers posited that these spikes might act as protection against bacterial infections based on their size.

To determine whether snake scale topographies contributed to microbial defense, the team tested whether the scales effectively suppressed E. coli and S. aureus adhesion and biofilm formation.

The team measured bacterial adhesion and biofilm formation on the snake scales and compared it to adhesion and biofilm formation on smooth polystyrene after 48 hours at 37°C. To ensure that effects were due to the physical features of the scales, they also tested ground, sterilized python skin in bacterial cultures.

Results showed that the spikes reduced E. coli and S. aureus biofilm formation by 88% and 78%, respectively, compared to the smooth polystyrene. The researchers found that the ground-up snake skin did indeed form a thick biofilm, confirming that the spiky physical topography of the scales is the biofilm-inhibiting mechanism of the skin.

The team isn’t sure exactly how the skin inhibits attachment and biofilm growth, but they present several reasonable possibilities.

It may be that the sharp protrusions reduce the effective contact area, resulting in unstable adhesion through membrane deformation, or that the rugged geometry prevents or hinders EPS accumulation, preventing biofilm stability. Another possibility is that complex surface topography may contribute to reduced wettability of the skin surface, which limits colonization.

An alternative for chemical antimicrobials?

The findings in the study certainly pave the way for new biomimetic, antibiofilm materials for medical devices and industrial surfaces, although further research will be needed to optimize synthetic analogs.

The hope is that physical mechanisms for anti-bacterial materials may reduce reliance on chemical antimicrobials and lower risks of antibiotic resistance in the future. Potential applications include bacterial-resistant catheters, implant surfaces and wound dressings, or water treatment systems and food processing equipment in industrial settings.

“The emergence of surface micro- and nanostructures capable of passively inhibiting microbial adhesion and biofilm formation would therefore provide an additional, complementary line of defense. Such a mechanism would reduce microbial burden between shedding events and lower infection risk without imposing a measurable metabolic cost, illustrating an elegant evolutionary strategy for maintaining integumentary hygiene through purely structural adaptation,” the authors conclude.

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