Chronic wounds are driven by resilient biofilms that standard lab models often fail to capture, risking overestimation of antibiotic efficacy. Using chronic wound medium with Symcel’s isothermal microcalorimetry, this application note reveals hidden drug tolerance and showcases how the calScreener offers a powerful tool for developing effective therapies.

This application note outlines the use of the Symcel calScreener™ in combination with Synthetic CF Sputum Media (SCFM) to model cystic fibrosis-related biofilms. This approach provides real-time, in situ analysis of biofilm kinetics, offering insights into treatment efficacy under clinically relevant conditions, and addressing limitations of conventional biofilm models.

This study highlights the use of isothermal microcalorimetry to evaluate antimicrobial coatings and materials. By measuring real-time heat flow associated with bacterial metabolism, this method provides insights into bacterial attachment, antimicrobial compound leaching, and contact-dependent bacterial killing. The technique offers a precise and efficient approach to assessing the antimicrobial properties of materials under conditions that simulate real-world applications, such as medical devices and industrial surfaces.