title: Sorption of antibiotics to biofilm.
abstract: Using a continuous-flow rotating annular bioreactor, sorption of three selected antibiotics (sulfamethoxazole (SMX), ciprofloxacin (CIP), and erythromycin (ERY)) to bacterial biofilm was investigated. CIP had the greatest biofilm partition coefficient (K(oc) = 92,000 ± 10,000 L/kg) followed by ERY (K(oc) = 6000 ± 1000 L/kg) and then SMX (K(oc) = 4000 ± 1000 L/kg). Antibiotic sorption to biofilm did not correlate with experimentally-determined K(ow) values (CIP: -0.4; ERY: 0.98; SMX: <-0.59 at pH 7), suggesting that hydrophobic interactions do not drive the sorption of these relatively hydrophilic compounds to the biofilm. It appears that speciation (i.e. charge) and molecular size of the antibiotics are important in explaining their sorption to typically negatively charged biofilm. SMX is neutral to negatively charged at circumneutral pH while CIP and ERY are both positively charged. The decreased extent of sorption of ERY relative to CIP is likely due to the larger molecular size of ERY that results in a decreased rate of mass transfer (i.e. diffusion) to and through the biofilm. In conclusion, the results of this research suggest that hydrophobic interactions (predicted by K(ow)) do not control sorption of relatively hydrophilic antibiotics to biofilm and that antibiotic speciation and molecular size are important factors affecting the interactions between antibiotics and biofilm.
authors.affiliation: Calvin College, Department of Engineering, 1734 Knollcrest Circle SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546 4493, USA. dwunder@calvin.edu
authors.forename: David B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Wunder
authors.forename: Valerie A
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Bosscher
authors.forename: Rhiana C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Cok
authors.forename: Raymond M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Hozalski
mesh_terms: D020003:1-Octanol / Q000737:chemistry; D000327:Adsorption; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000737:chemistry*; D018441:Biofilms; D019149:Bioreactors; D002939:Ciprofloxacin / Q000737:chemistry; D004917:Erythromycin / Q000737:chemistry; D006244:Hardness; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D009930:Organic Chemicals / Q000737:chemistry; D012044:Regression Analysis; D013420:Sulfamethoxazole / Q000737:chemistry; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D009930:Organic Chemicals; D014867:Water; D002939:Ciprofloxacin; D004917:Erythromycin; D013420:Sulfamethoxazole; D020003:1-Octanol