Soluble and immobilized papain and trypsin as destroyers of bacterial biofilms

Abstract

The proteolytic enzymes are widely used in medicine as a wound healing agents, removing necrotic tissues and serving as an alternative to surgery. The ability of soluble and immobilized papain and trypsin to destroy bacterial biofilm was investigated. We show that treatment with papain leads to disruption of biofilms formed by Pseudomonas aerugenosa, Escherichia coli, Micrococcus luteus, and in a lesser extent of Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis. It is shown that none of the investigated enzymes has mutagenicity and cytotoxicity, and causes no increase in the amount of necrotic cells in culture in vitro.