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Review
. 2021 Sep 14;11(9):707.
doi: 10.3390/membranes11090707.

Langmuir Monolayer Techniques for the Investigation of Model Bacterial Membranes and Antibiotic Biodegradation Mechanisms

Monika Rojewska  1 , Wojciech Smułek  1 , Ewa Kaczorek  1 , Krystyna Prochaska  1
Affiliations
Review

Langmuir Monolayer Techniques for the Investigation of Model Bacterial Membranes and Antibiotic Biodegradation Mechanisms

Monika Rojewska et al. Membranes (Basel). .

Abstract

The amounts of antibiotics of anthropogenic origin released and accumulated in the environment are known to have a negative impact on local communities of microorganisms, which leads to disturbances in the course of the biodegradation process and to growing antimicrobial resistance. This mini-review covers up-to-date information regarding problems related to the omnipresence of antibiotics and their consequences for the world of bacteria. In order to understand the interaction of antibiotics with bacterial membranes, it is necessary to explain their interaction mechanism at the molecular level. Such molecular-level interactions can be probed with Langmuir monolayers representing the cell membrane. This mini-review describes monolayer experiments undertaken to investigate the impact of selected antibiotics on components of biomembranes, with particular emphasis on the role and content of individual phospholipids and lipopolysaccharides (LPS). It is shown that the Langmuir technique may provide information about the interactions between antibiotics and lipids at the mixed film surface (π-A isotherm) and about the penetration of the active substances into the phospholipid monolayer model membranes (relaxation of the monolayer). Effects induced by antibiotics on the bacterial membrane may be correlated with their bactericidal activity, which may be vital for the selection of appropriate bacterial consortia that would ensure a high degradation efficiency of pharmaceuticals in the environment.

Keywords: LPS; Langmuir monolayer; antibiotic resistance; antibiotics; bacterial membrane; phospholipids.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
The migration pathways of antibiotics to the environment (according to [4]).
Figure 2
Figure 2
A Langmuir monolayer as a model of bacterial membrane leaflet.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Surface pressure–area isotherms (π–A) of a Langmuir monolayer and molecules in different phases.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Relaxation of a monolayer by Langmuir technique: (a) injection underneath a monolayer into the bulk of the subphase; (b) subphase replacement.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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