Antibiofilm properties of cathelicidin LL-37: an in-depth review

Biofilm-associated infections represent a particularly challenging clinical problem because biofilms protect bacteria from both antibiotics and the immune system. This in-depth review by Memariani and Memariani examined LL-37's specific antibiofilm properties and their therapeutic implications.

The authors systematically reviewed the literature on LL-37's interactions with bacterial biofilms, analyzing studies that examined the peptide's ability to prevent biofilm formation, disrupt established biofilms, and kill bacteria within biofilm structures. The review covered multiple bacterial species and biofilm types.

The review confirmed LL-37's powerful antibiofilm properties across multiple pathogenic species. The peptide was shown to be effective at multiple stages of the biofilm lifecycle, from preventing initial attachment to penetrating and disrupting mature biofilms, which is a capability that most conventional antibiotics lack.

Biofilm-associated infections cause significant morbidity in healthcare settings, particularly in patients with implanted medical devices or chronic wounds. LL-37's demonstrated ability to combat these persistent infections positions it as a uniquely valuable therapeutic candidate that could address a major gap in current antimicrobial treatment options.