Anti-Biofilm
Technology
Anti-Biofilm
Technology
The Problem
A biofilm is a community of microbial cells that are attached to a surface and are protected by an extracellular polymeric matrix (EPS). Within a biofilm, microbes are exceptionally resilient and present a tremendous obstacle to intervention (cleaning & eradication).
Our world is full of bacteria and biofilms are increasingly an issue in everyday life: in the home, workplace, healthcare and leisure environments.
Over 80% of bacterial infections in humans are estimated to involve the formation of biofilms. The antibiotics we use to eliminate harmful bacteria are increasingly ineffective due to the rapid evolution in bacteria of antibiotic resistance. More than 70% of the infections people acquire in hospitals are from bacteria.
Bacteria communicate with each other, particularly when in biofilms, by using small chemical signals that pass between cells (‘Quorum Sensing’). These signalling pathways enable the cells to co-ordinate their activities, such as forming biofilms and production of toxins.

These behavioural responses also include adaptation to availability of nutrients, defence against other micro-organisms which may compete for the same nutrients and the avoidance of toxic compounds potentially dangerous for the bacteria. All of this complexity makes it extremely challenging to combat biofilm formation and development.
The Solution
The technology solution is based on nature’s own model. The marine seaweed Delisea Pulchra has evolved a sophisticated chemical defence mechanism against bacterial and microbial contamination.
Bacterial communication systems are key in the formation and development of biofilms.
Generating compounds called furanones, the balanced ecosystem of Delisea shields unwanted bacterial communication of microbial invaders. This in turn prevents the biofilm formation and contamination of its surfaces, thereby ensuring healthy growth.
Inspired by the natural compounds produced through the evolution of Delisea, Unilever plc has been developing biomimetic technology to combat biofilm formation for the past 10 years.
The result of this work is a substantial intellectual property portfolio of furanone derivatives, called lactams.
Lactams, at ppm levels, interfere with signalling activities among bacteria with a primary bacteriostatic effect. Importantly, lactams have been shown to inhibit biosensing between bacteria and can further influence the bacteria to be less invasive.
Crucially, research has shown that this effect has not only had impact across gram positive and negative bacteria, but also yeast, fungi and algae show sensitivity to the lactam technology. This demonstrates the potential for the lactam technology to be effective on multi-species biofilms.
Leveraging millions of years of Delisea’s evolution has therefore resulted in anti-biofilm technology capable of solving a number of industrial, consumer and healthcare problems. This approach also targets challenges in bacterial resistance as well as reduction of environmental damage caused by microbial contamination, the hallmarks of a sustainable antibacterial strategy.
Penrhos Bio has exclusive licence to this unique IP portfolio including use-specific patents to exploit this technology across a range of targeted commercial applications.
A biofilm is a community of bacterial cells that are attached to a surface and are protected by an extracellular polymeric matrix (EPS). Within a biofilm state, bacteria are exceptionally hardy and they present a tremendous obstacle for intervention (cleaning & eradication)
The Problem


The Solution
Bacteria communicate with each other, particularly when in biofilms, by using small chemical signals that pass between cells (‘Quorum Sensing’). These signalling pathways enable the cells to co-ordinate their activities, such as forming biofilms and production of toxins.
These behavioural responses also include adaptation to availability of nutrients, defence against other micro-organisms which may com pete for the same nutrients and the avoid ance of toxic compounds potentially dan gerous for the bacteria. All of this makes it extremely challenging to combat biofilm formation and development.

Cell to cell communication – Quorum Sensing
Lactam molecules inhibiting biosensing
The Problem

The Solution
Bacteria communicate with each other, particularly when in biofilms, by using small chemical signals that pass between cells (‘Quorum Sensing’). These signalling pathways enable the cells to co-ordinate their activities, such as forming biofilms and production of toxins.
These behavioural responses also include adaptation to availability of nutrients, defence against other micro-organisms which may com pete for the same nutrients and the avoid ance of toxic compounds potentially dan gerous for the bacteria. All of this makes it extremely challenging to combat biofilm formation and development.


Cell to cell communication – Quorum Sensing
Lactam molecules inhibiting biosensing

Penhros Bio
is a bioscience company with unique capability to safely control biofilm formation
using nature-inspired molecules.
The company was formed as a joint venture between Unilever plc and Innova Partnerships in 2019 and has exclusive licence to exploit innovative bioderived anti-biofilm technology developed by Unilever plc over the past 10 years.
