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Microbial biofilms pose severe problems in the medical field and food industry, as they are the cause of many serious infections and food-borne diseases. The extreme biofilms' resistance to conventional anti-microbial treatments presents a major challenge to their elimination. In this study, the difference in resistance between Staphylococcus aureus DSMZ 12463 biofilms, biofilm-detached cells, and planktonic cells against microcapsules containing carvacrol was assessed. The antimicrobial/antibiofilm activity of low pH disinfection medium containing the microencapsulated carvacrol was also studied. In addition, the effect of low pH on the in vitro carvacrol release from microcapsules was investigated. The minimum inhibitory concentration of microencapsulated carvacrol was 0.625 mg mL−1. The results showed that biofilms exhibited greater resistance to microencapsulated carvacrol than the biofilm-detached cells and planktonic cells. Low pH treatment alone, by hydrochloric acid addition, showed no bactericidal effect on any of the three states of S. aureus strain. However, microencapsulated carvacrol was able to significantly reduce the planktonic cells and biofilm-detached cells below the detection limit (no bacterial counts), and the biofilm by approximatively 3 log CFU mL−1. In addition, results showed that microencapsulated carvacrol combined with low pH treatment reduced biofilm by more than 5 log CFU mL−1. Thus, the use of microencapsulated carvacrol in acidic environment could be a promising approach to combat biofilms from abiotic surfaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cleaning up biocontamination from surfaces is a critical aspect of maintaining a hygienic environment. Traditional cleaning methods often fall short when it comes to eliminating persistent biofilms and resilient bacteria. In recent years, alternative approaches utilizing antibiofilm enzymes, bacteriophages, essential oils (EOs), antibacterial peptides, and biosurfactants have emerged as promising strategies to combat biocontamination. This article explores the efficiency of these agents in targeting and eradicating biofilms, highlighting their mechanisms of action and potential applications. By leveraging the unique properties of these materials, we can enhance cleaning practices and improve public health outcomes by effectively eliminating biocontamination from various surfaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]