Biofilms are defined as a normal pattern of microorganisms organized in microbial communities that are attached on an inert or living surface. Biofilms are embedded in a matrix containing polysaccharides, proteins, and extracellular microbial DNA [1-3]. Because provides a reservoir for microbial cells, its dispersion enhances the risk of chronic and persistent infections. It may also promote the reinfection of colonized sites [4,5]. Likewise the matrix confers a protection against biocides and drugs and have environmental promoters that induce biofilm formation and contributes to drug resistance development [6,7], therefore biofilms cause approximately 100,000 hospital deaths per year in the United States and 80% of human microbial infections [8].

Several mechanisms have been reported for increased antimicrobial resistance in biofilm structures [9]:

• Low diffusion of antibiotics across the polysaccharide matrix. By three ways, as are, increase of the transmembrane pressure drop, increase of feed channel pressure drop, and increase of transmembrane passage [10].

• Physiological changes due to slow growth rate and starvation responses (oxygen, nutrient deprivation or environmental stress).

• Phenotypic change of the cells forming the biofilm.

• Quorum-sensing.

• The expression of efflux pumps that decrease intracellular antimicrobial concentration.

• The emergence of persister cells which are multi drug-tolerant cells that have not acquired genetic resistance [11].

Similarly biofilm structure promotes the antibiotic resistance through facilitated horizontal gene transfer due to the high microbial population density. Through conjugation process that permits biofilm formation [12]. All these factors contribute to biofilm cells being 1000- fold more resistant to antimicrobial agents than planktonic cells [2,13]. Equally, the current treatment and control of biofilm is complicated, because antimicrobials have been developed against planktonicallygrown bacteria and microorganisms in metabolically active stage [14].

Biofilm formation, maturation and dispersion can be measured both in vitro and in vivo using antimicrobial standardized assays developed to determinate responses of bacterial population to different compounds. Because the biofilm environment can contribute to the emergence of antibiotic resistance does an urgent need to obtain new drugs and biocides that prevent or inhibit biofilm formation and have microbicidal activity on cells inhabit biofilms structure? To achieve such goal effective high throughput in vitro assays for screening potential therapeutics and control measures must be developed [15]. Therefore the aim of this paper is to review the methods currently available for such purpose, under the criteria optimization screening platforms that can be robust, reproducible and automatable greater extent and offer alternatives for cross “the valley of death” between biofilm susceptibility testing and antibiofilm drug discovery.

In antibiofilm screening activity traditionally there has been two models of in vitro study, static and flow (Table 1). In flow methods biofilms are grown with continuous flow of fresh medium whereas static medium are only batch cultures. Static assays can be used for study to study early stages of biofilm formation [16]. On the other hand, flow cell systems that provide a constant supply of nutrients across microbial cells attached to a synthetic surface, are considered as the gold standard for assessing developmental processes associated with biofilm formation [17]. Using both types of assays one aims at determining the Minimal Biofilm Inhibitory Concentration (MBIC) and Minimal Biofilm Eradication Concentration (MBEC) as in vitro static parameters of drug efficacy. On the other hand, dynamic interaction between antimicrobials and biofilms can be determinated by time-kill curves which measure antibiotic action in function of the concentration and time [18]. Other techniques have been developed in the interest of providing as much information on the interaction between different substances to evaluate and biofilms, as molecular targets, biofilm thickness and inhibition of biofilm factors that contribute to drug resistance in different stages (Table 1).

Table 1: Classification of antibiofilm screening assay.

Colorimetric

The quantitative assay methods for anti-biofilm activity based in colorimetric methodologies are similar to the microbroth dilution assay described in the Clinical Laboratory and Standards Institute (CLSI) document M7-A7. In addition, some assays can be adapted for high-throughput screening [19]. The conventional method is staining with crystal violet (CV), followed by washing, CV extraction, and measurement of CV-specific absorption at 590 nm. Although this essay is the most easy to perform, CV is susceptible to inaccuracies, because it is not able to classify between living or dead organisms within the biofilm. However the CV assay can be complemented by conventional plate counts to monitor the decreasing numbers of detected by counting colony forming units (CFU) from re-suspended biofilms. However, this technique is slow and error-prone due to the possibility of incomplete removal from the surface or imperfect resuspension before plating and not possesses the sensitivity to monitor primary adhesion events [20,21]. Another commonly used is safranin staining that predominantly detects extracellular substances as Exopolysaccharide (EPS) that is present in biofilm matrix in a large amount and is composed of sugar polymers, safranin is commonly used to quantify biofilm mass and can be evaluated using light microscopy at a magnification of ×140, the relative amount of biofilm can be quantified by an optical density (OD) measurement at 490 nm [22-24]. For quantification of bacterial viability in static biofilm, metabolic assays using tetrazolium salt derivatives such as 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT, closely related tetrazolium dyes including XTT and TTC) are excellent candidates. These assays are based on the detection of metabolic products produced by microbial cells and have the advantage of being able to automation in a microplate reader at 560 nm (absorbance of formazan produced by tetrazolium salts metabolism) and at 700 nm (absorbance for the tetrazolium salt) without sample handling by not requiring removal of the biofilm, only the extraction of the dye [25,26]. However, limitations as susceptibility to respiration rate of bacteria and time growth and biofilm thickness should be considered, because attached cells do not have the same metabolic activity as planktonic cells. In addition, a decrease in the vital dye reduction has been described in the presence of antibacterial compounds, reducing then the reproducibility of this method in anti-biofilm drug discovery [27,28].

In the same way using metabolic assays in screening platforms were developed Biofilm Eradication Surface Test (BEST) AssayTM and MBEC AssayTM. MBEC AssayTM uses the 96-well plate format for evaluate the antibiotic susceptibility of microbial biofilms and has been used to evaluate different clinically relevant microorganisms as, Pseudomona spp., Staphylococcus spp., and Mycobacterium spp. This system has also been proven in a number of studies including the evaluation of biocides used for food and decontamination of surfaces. The MBEC is determined from the biofilm growing on the special 96-peg lid and suspend into the wells of the microtitre plate. MBIC and MBEC values derived from the planktonic and attached organisms in the plate wells have been validated against CLSI standards [29,30].

Equally, Biofilm Eradication Surface Test (BEST) AssayTM have been used for to evaluate biofilm removal in different surfaces, this system utilizes a versatile, multi-well plate technology that allows biofilm growth on a wide variety of surface materials in combination with metabolic dyes or CFU counting. The biofilms attached on different surfaces cultured on the BESTTM can be transferred to multiwell plates for disinfection and drug discovery tests [31].

Fluorometric

Spectrofluorometric biofilm assay have shown be more sensitive and specific than the colorimetric method [32]. Fluorometric assays give more precise measurements, do not involve cell lysis, and are susceptible of being used with functional assays in fluorescence and/ or absorbance screening platforms [33]. Among them resazurin (7-hydroxy-3H-phenoxazin-3-one-10-oxide) a blue redox dye that is reduced by metabolically active cells to the pink fluorescent product resorufin, fluorescence signals are measured at an excitation wavelength at 530-560 nm and an emission wavelength at 590 nm providing an automatable antibiofilm screening protocol. But, it is important take into account a number of factors that influence the results of fluorescent signal. For example, metabolic differences between microorganisms, which makes it necessary to optimize dye incubation time. Similarly fluorescent signals can be detected in high bacterial concentrations (10⁷ CFU/ml), for that reason various quantification methods should be performed in low biofilm concentrations. Finally it is important to use calibration curves with biofilms for develop analysis between measured resazurin fluorescent signal and anti-biofilm screening assays [34].

Other methods implemented in high content screening (HCS) to measure bacterial adhesion as well as biofilm formation and removal are using fluorescent dye as SYTO-9 and propidium iodide, SYTO-9 green fluorescent nucleic acid stain labels all cells whether living or dead, while the red fluorescent nucleic acid stain, propidium iodide, enters only cells with damaged membranes. This HCS assay quantifies total adhered cells as well as allows measure viability of adhered cells and biofilm alteration by treatment with antimicrobial compounds and is compatible with functional assays [21,35]. Likewise are present in commercial platforms for viability cell as LIVE/DEAD^® BacLightTM Bacterial Viability Kit [36]. Due to method limitations, such as the influence in the results of interaction between total bacterial counts and the quantity of the stain used, an alternative may be to use FDA/EB (Fluorescein Diacetate/Ethidium Bromide) stain that does not present concentration dependence in the reaction [37]. Although mutagenicity of EB remains controversial, FDA/EB fluorescence assay seems to be one of the best methods to study biofilms [37].

Magnetic

An interesting approach in static antibiofilm screening is the magnetic assay BioFilm Ring Test® for to evaluate the ability of bacteria to form biofilms. This assay consists on the immobilization measure in a modified 96 multiwell plate of magnetic beads attached with bacterial cells and have the ability of evaluates the bacterial biofilm formation without washing and staining steps [38,39].

Fluid dynamics is an important factor known to influence biofilm formation in natural environments. Have been observed that biofilms formed under high shear and turbulent flow is more strongly attached than their low-shear counterparts [40]. There is a need of developing new methods in which the testing of antibiofilm activity can be conducted under flow conditions. The requirements for these techniques include the possibility to predict the activity against the biofilm-associated organisms in vivo with reasonable reproducibility and low cost.

Kadouri drip-fed biofilm system

Useful for study the effect of compounds on the resident cells and inhibition, not to study biofilm-specific resistance, using a constant flow of culture medium can maintain bacterial growth for a long period and allows obtain lot of biomass that can be monitored by direct observation under inverted microscope useful for genomic and proteomic assays [41]. Kadouri biofilm system (Figure 1) have the ability of to study and characterize biofilms in reproducible way, and to emulate the different processes of biofilm formation, but although the system has the disadvantage of low pressure exert on microbial cells can be a bridge between static and flow antibiofilm assays [41,42].

Figure 1: Kadouri biofilm system for flow biofilm study.

Modified Robbins Device (MRD)

Modified Robbins Device (MRD) (Figure 2) has been used to determine the biocidal activity against organisms attached in the biofilm from catheter segments [43]. Because provides a reproducible method of forming microbial biofilms. The MRD offers an ability of producing naturally occurring biofilms and maintaining their structural integrity for study [44]. The MRD allows the study of various flow biofilm models by different microorganisms, in different growth media and or on different substrata and is compatible with highthroughput screening methods. Because to discs with biofilms formed can be transferred for biocidal antibiofilm testing in a microplate, giving the opportunity for that different products and/or protocols can be tested at the same time [45].

Figure 2: Modified Robbins Device (MRD) used to determine the biocidal activity against organisms attached in different surface materials.

Tubular Capillary Electrochromatography (CEC)

Capillary electrochromatography (CEC) is a capillary electromigration technique used in biofilm research. In CEC, electro osmotic flow induces the biofilm movement in a capillary as mobile phase, and further filled by a stationary phase. The retention of analytes is due to a combination of electrophoretic migration and chromatographic retention. Some authors have shown that CEC technique is successful applied to the separation, identification, and characterization of mixtures of both living and dead bacteria contained in biofilm structure, very useful in biofilm metabolomics research [46].

Microcalorimetric assay

Isothermal microcalorimetry (IMC) is used to study bacterial activity and bacterial growth in various types of samples ranging from soil to liquid cultures. Microcalorimetry measures the heat production of biological processes that is related with chemical and physical processes occurring in the organisms studied. Microbial activity may be quantified by the detection of heat output accompanying all biochemical redox reactions and can be used for measurements of metabolism of aerobic or anaerobic bacteria. Thus, IMC is very useful to give quantitative data about biofilm formation as well as metabolic status [47,48]. The major advantage of this technique is the rapid sample handling because further processing for sample preparation is not needed. The easy ability and the utility of this technique for biocide evaluation of antibiofilm activity have been demonstrated both static and flow biofilms [49]. In addition, calorimetry can be combined with other methods as microfluidics for provide more information on the biochemicals alterations under antibiotic exposure [50].

FC270 flow-cell system

FC270 flow-cell system (Figure 3) is a device for flow biofilm study that contains two compartments, with polycarbonate coupons. Within the device, bacterial growth media is perfused in a surface on which bacteria are adhered, providing both a large growing surface and an observation area. The FC270 system is particularly useful for the analysis of resulting biofilms using confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). In addition, the FC270 system has the advantage to study biofilm formation in different materials and surfaces [51]. However, there are three major limitations, as they are, a limited visualization the biofilm formation during development, only two biofilms can be studied per experiment, and require a large volume of growth medium in each experiment [17].

Figure 3: FC270 flow-cell system, device for flow biofilm study in compartments.

Biofilm biosensor

A biosensor is an electronic device with the ability to quantify biochemical and physiological changes in biological processes. Biosensors use transducers that convert a signal in one form of energy to another form of energy that can be measured and analyzed, depending on the type of energy; the transducer can be electrochemical, optical, acoustic and electronic. Using these devices is possible to detect different analytes between microbes within biofilm. The major advantages of biosensing system are its specificity, sensitivity, experimental reproducibility, as well as ability to analyte detection in optically opaque solutions, also the application both for the study of static and flow biofilms [51-53].

An interesting approach develops an innovative biofilm screening platform using dielectric microsensors for continuous growth assessment of Candida albicans and Pichia pastoris in different concentrations of antimicrobial drugs. Contactless dielectric microsensors have a high degree of sensitivity toward morphology changes, and can be integrated in a microfluidic device, give the ability to biofilm analysis platform, simultaneously provides quantitative results associated with multiple phenotypic changes in a cell population, that can be used for to study interactions between biofilm and antimicrobial [54,55].

Microfluidic devices manipulate fluids constrained to a small environment, in sub-millimeter scale. They provide closed system where bacterial biofilms can interact with hydrodynamic environments [56]. Microfluidic systems are compatible with integration of microfabricated sensors, creating automatable lab-on-a-chip platforms. For study flow biofilms, BioFluxTM device permits rapid measurement the fluorescence of flow biofilms with a plate reader, which permits initial high-throughput screening of their viability. BioFlux1000 apparatus is composed of an epifluorescence microscope, a pneumatic compressor, a camera, and 24-well or 48-well plates with microfluidic channels (Figure 4), for sterile media and effluent, permits assessing biofilm formation in a continuous, non- invasive manner and obtain unprecedented comparison of biofilm development by bacterial strains containing different mutations, but have the disadvantage of the inability to collect effluent for analysis of metabolic products generated during biofilm growth [57-59].

Figure 4: BioFlux™ device, plates with microfluidic channels, for sterile media and effluents.

For study biofilms have been developed other microfluidic device that integrates compartments for cell culture, oxygen gradient generator and an optical sensor. This microfluidic system is a useful in biofilm studies where oxygen consumption measures are required in microaerobic and anaerobic conditions [60].

These methods are very useful for quantification of biofilm from environmental samples and static or flow systems and allow study polimicrobial biofilms attached to different surfaces [27].

Real Time Quantitative-Reverse Transcription- PCR (qRTPCR)

qRT-PCR has been proposed as a promising indicator of cell viability because can detects all cells in a sample, including the dead cells and has been applied to quantify a specific microorganism in biofilm [61], because is very useful to determine the number of RNA transcripts from bacterial biofilms. qRT-PCR have the advantage to be highly sensitive, and can be used to quantify gene expression from small amount of biofilm samples. SYBR Green and dual-labeled probe (Taqman) are the most frequently used qRT-PCR methods and can to discriminate and count both live and dead cells in a microbiological sample [62,63].

Fluorescence in situ hybridization FISH

The multiplex fluorescence in situ hybridization (M-FISH) is a method that use fluorescent labeled oligonucleotide probes specific 16S rRNA sequences and have allowed in situ analysis of the spatial and temporal dynamics of different bacterial populations within oral biofilms. The advantages of using M-FISH to spatially discriminate between various members of the microbial community involve the ability for identification of uncultured bacteria and the rapid manufacturing of new oligonucleotide probes, the combined use of M-FISH with CLSM monitors permits obtain three-dimensional spatial distribution of different bacteria in multispecies biofilms and can quantify semi planktonic biofilms in their natural habitat [64]. FISH is a genetic alternative because can be applied to environmental and clinical samples, some authors have showed that FISH limitations can be solved with peptide nucleic acid (PNA) probes that using synthetic DNA analogues with stronger binding to DNA/RNA, and present higher specificity and sensitivity than conventional DNA probes [65].

The soil nematode Caenorhabditis elegans is a versatile host that has been used extensively for the study of various pathogens. Is a bioassay compatible with high-throughput screening technologies, and a have the advantage to detect toxic compounds that affect nematode viability, using the vital dye SYTOX for measure worm survival in presence of pathogenic microorganisms [66,67].

C. elegans has shown to be an interesting infectious model in the research of host parasite interactions and evaluate the participation of different genes in virulence and immunity. An important factor of the C. elegans pathogenicity models is the similarity between mammalian pathogenesis by Gram-positive bacteria and the infectious process in C. elegans. Likewise, biofilm formation is an important virulence factor in C. elegans infection models for obstructing the pharynx nematode [68].

Also, C. albicans have the ability to colonize the intestine of nematodes forming biofilm and kills the worms by forming an intricate network of pseudohyphae that penetrate through their cuticle. This filamentation has shown to be important in fungal biofilm formation and virulence [69,66].

Furthemore, one interesting approach is to evaluate compounds that interfere with bacterial quorum sensing. In this way an inhibitor of quorum sensing present in the bacteria Chromobacterium violaceum protected C. elegans from bacterial killing. This confirms the use of C. elegans infectious model for screening of new quorum sensing blockers [70,71].

Equally, Galleria mellonela larvae have shown to be an interesting model in antifungal quorum sensing inhibitors model [72]. Because G. mellonella model have an innate immune system based in hemocytes that mimic fungal-pathogens interactions [73].

Inhibitors targeting various mechanisms of biofilm formation have been analyzed. And is an important strategy in inhibition of the mechanisms by which microorganisms interact with each other within biofilm, in that way screening platforms that evaluate microbial social evolution can help identify novel therapeutic targets and assist in the rational design of therapies that avoid selection for resistance [74].

Quorum sensing

Gram negative bacteria such as Vibrio fischeri communicate by the production, distribution and detection of a class of small- molecules known as N-acyl-homoserine lactones (AHL). In terms of the communication mechanism, 3-oxohexanoyl- L -homoserine- lactone (OHHL) is free to diffuse in and out of cells and is detected by the LuxR receptor protein. At this point, the LuxR-OHHL complex activates gene transcription, useful in bioluminescence methods. This mode of AHL-mediated quorum sensing is prevalent amongst numerous Gram negative bacteria [74].

Several quorum sensing blocking strategies are directed to looking for inhibition of the synthase enzyme responsible for the production of the signaling molecule or receptor protein; inhibition of the chemical signal mediated by OHHL; or inhibition of the receptor protein that modulates quorum sensing [75,76]. In this way enzyme and receptorcoupled high-throughput cell-free screen have been developed for find inhibitors of intercellular quorum-sensing signals as quorum sensing inhibitors approach [77].

Antibiofilm detachment activity

Traditionally, laboratory experiments focus on the attachment of planktonic batch-cultured or chemostat cultured cells to surfaces and the subsequent biofilm growth. The detachment and dispersal of cells from biofilms has received less attention. Detachment can be produced by increase of fluid pressure or by endogenous enzymatic degradation, as well as the release of EPS or surface-binding proteins. Detachment is evaluated normally in biofilm removal strategies, but biofilm dispersion is a process involved in colonization of new reservoirs [78]. Fluorescence microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), have been used for to evaluate the chemical removal of biofilm [79-81]. Equally, was developed a microtitre plate biofilm detachment assay with safranin staining [22,23]. An important molecular target is degradation of the matrix that results in the detachment of cells from the colony and their release into the environment, regulated by accessory gene regulatory (agr) system, producing matrix-degrading gene products implicated in active biofilm dispersal as proteases, deoxyribonucleases, and surfactants [82].

Checkerboard assay

Because microbes within a biofilm are up to a 1,000-fold more resistant to antibiotics and are inherently insensitive to the host immune response, microorganisms in a biofilm represent a significant hurdle for antibiotic treatment. For that reason is necessary to determinate synergistic action of antimicrobial agents for biofilm elimination [83]. Checkerboard assay is a common technique to test antimicrobial combinations, even if it does not always reliably show additive effects when agents are combined and can be revealed with colorimetric and fluorometric dyes. Using the broth microdilution checkerboard method, synergistic interactions are frequently seen using the following formula for obtain Fractional Inhibitory Concentration (FIC) index: FIC = (Ac/Aa) + (Bc/Ba), where Ac and Bc are the minimum inhibitory concentration (MICs) of compounds in combination, and Aa and Ba are the MICs of drugs A and B alone [84]. Synergism by the checkerboard method is defined as a Fractional Inhibitory Concentration (FIC) index of ≤ 0.5, additive effect is defined as an FIC index of > 0.5 and ≤ 1, Indifference effect is defined as an FIC index of > 1 and ≤ 2 and antagonism effect is defined as an FIC index of > 4. Concentrations within the FIC panel were such that the MIC of each antibiotic was in the middle of the range of concentrations tested [85].

In vitro wound biofilm model

Biofilm can be present in wounds, and cause the majority of nonhealing wounds, increasing the global cost of chronic wounds and mortality and morbidity in patients affected. Biofilm is related with failures in epithelialization and granulation tissue formation, and promotes a low-grade inflammatory response that interferes with wound healing, so that is important develop techniques that evaluate antibiofilm wound management [86]. The colony-drip flow reactor (DFR) was implemented for to evaluate in vitro biofilms in a way that simulates the chronic wound environment [87,88]. Equally, constant depth film fermenter (CDFF) has been used in the formation of multiple biofilms from wounds. An important feature of this system is the possibility of variation of key parameters, as are nutrient source, temperature, oxygen availability and substrata. Also allows study various aspects of biofilm physiology in presence of antimicrobial therapies and biocides as are chlorhexidine, sodium hypochlorite, tetracycline and silver [89].

Bioluminiscence

Bioluminescence Imaging (BLI) is a reproducible, robust and automatable method to analyze in vivo infectious diseases models and quantitatively monitor infection and microbial load in an in vivo model. BLI is based on the detection of visible light (photons) that is produced by an enzymatic oxidation of a substrate, catalyzed by luciferase enzymes. It is one of the few imaging methods that can non-invasively quantify cell viability [90]. Other alternative protocol is the Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP) bioluminescence method, which measure the action of the nucleotide ATP in the energy exchange of biological processes. ATP is present in all metabolically active cells, which is released when cells are lysed, and can be measured by bioluminescence using luciferin-luciferase reaction, has been utilized for to quantify viable bacteria in biofilm formation [91].

Also, Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomona aeruginosa, were made bioluminescent by insertion of a lux operon. The bioluminescent signals produced for these bacteria can be used for both in vitro studies and the development of an in vivo model, allowing assessment in real time of the physiological state of the biofilms [92].

Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy (CLSM)

The observation of microbial cells and biological changes is important to give exact information on antimicrobial action within functional biofilm structure. This is done by digital image processing and tridimensional biofilm structures can thus be scanned and then reconstructed and quantified after data processing using dedicated software [93]. This approach allows multichannel imaging of cellular and extracellular constituents. In addition sample mounting allows many options for examination of bioaggregates and biofilms, although these techniques allow high-resolution imaging, the sample has to adapt to the technical requirements [94]. But the constant development and the use of fluorescent markers able to target specific constituents of the biofilm as matrix components, nucleic acid, and protein residues can to identify specific cellular physiological states and give the possibility to obtain information about of architecture, composition, and cellular organization of biofilm. Equally, the development of a high-throughput CLSM method, based on the use of a microtiter plate compatible with high- resolution imaging, offer the opportunity to amplify data, in biocide activity within the biofilm of Pseudomona aeruginosa, Bacillus subtilis, and Staphylococcus epidermidis because allowed observe biocides function in different patterns of fluorescence loss [95,96].

It is important to develop and implement new diagnostics and assays to select appropriate antibiotics for the treatment of biofilm-associated disease [97]. Biofilms present challenging problems in prosthetic device infections and may contribute to other infections, including recurrent Pseudomonal pneumonia in cystic fibrosis patients and endocarditis. Because drug tolerance present in biofilms by quorum sensing circuits and adhesion makes it difficult to eradicate, in this order of ideas biofilm inhibitors discovery of these processes should also impact biofilm formation and infection spread [98].

The next antibiofilm technologies would be focused in the development of in vivo evaluation methods with the end to determine the action of new antimicrobial drugs or biocides against biofilm formation and can predict the clinical outcome in persistent infections of drug combinations or new treatment strategies, through application of specific pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) parameters, that can be useful in establishing a successful anti-infective therapy. In addition, biosensor methods should be applied in new medical devices together to nanotechnological approach for to provide tools with the ability of detect and inhibit the biofilm in the early stages and thus to prevent nosocomial infections [99].

Finally, for implement antibiofilm drug discovery platform is necessary take account

1) selection species (fungus, bacteria),

2) incubation parameters (static or flow, aerobic or anaerobic), with the aim to obtain similar environmental and physical parameters presents in an in vivo biofilm,

3) specific aspects of biofilm formation, as time of biofilm maturation and biofilm mass development, and

4) selection of adequate method of detection and measure of the different species in the biofilms, depending of research topic (colorimetric, fluorometric, magnetic, genetic) [100].

The author acknowledges to Claudia Marcela Montes for the design of the figures contained in this review.