Bacteria can develop resistance to antibiotics through several mechanisms. In this study, we focus on one of the mechanisms based on biofilm growth. Biofilms are organized communities of micro-organisms buried firmly on extra polymeric matrix attached to the living surface. The matrix which is formed surrounding the bacteria makes them tolerant to harsh environment conditions as well as resistant to antibacterial treatment. The development of biofilms in clinical or hospital setting is the major reason for several infections. They have negative impact when they are formed on medical devices as it is difficult to eradicate it using disinfectants or antibiotics available. Several in vitro models have been implemented in the last decade to evaluate antimicrobial activity on bacterial biofilms. There is lack of simple, economical and reliable static biofilm models to study biofilms. In this scenario, considering the importance of this research area, we planned to design laboratory scale working models to study biofilms. We used Escherichia Coli as a model organism. E. coli biofilms are made up of a bacterial colony enclosed in an extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) matrix that protects the bacteria from the environment and contributes to infection. The emergence of antibiotic resistance exacerbates the variety of structural components of biofilm, making its eradication more difficult. This new model will contribute to deeper knowledge about the physiology, structure, formation and composition of biofilms. This method can be used as an appropriate and up-to-date technique to study biofilms at laboratory settings.

Keywords: Biofilms, Antibiotic resistance, Infection, Escherichia coli, static model