# Fatty Acids as Prebiotics and Their Role in Antibiofilm Activity

## TL;DR

This paper reviews how fatty acids can act as prebiotics to disrupt harmful bacterial biofilms and improve treatment outcomes.

## Contribution

The paper synthesizes current evidence on fatty acids as prebiotics, emphasizing their mechanisms and potential for biofilm control.

## Key findings

- Short- and medium-chain fatty acids disrupt biofilm structure and inhibit pathogen biofilm formation.
- Omega-3 fatty acids inhibit Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms via membrane disruption and quorum sensing inhibition.
- Long-chain fatty acids show anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties, offering potential for biofilm control.

## Abstract

Microbial biofilms pose significant medical and industrial challenges due to their resistance to conventional antimicrobials, accounting for 40–80% of bacteria in various environments. This resistance primarily results from the extracellular polymeric matrix, a protective network of sugars, proteins, and other molecules produced by bacteria. The matrix restricts antibiotic penetration, facilitates microbial communication, and retains nutrients. Consequently, novel strategies to counteract biofilms are under investigation. Fatty acids have emerged as promising prebiotic agents, defined as substances that stimulate the growth of beneficial bacteria. These compounds can disrupt biofilm structure and increase microbial susceptibility to treatment. Short- and medium-chain fatty acids demonstrate direct antimicrobial activity and can alter microbial community composition, thereby inhibiting biofilm formation in several pathogens, including oral species. For instance, omega-3 fatty acids effectively inhibit Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms through membrane disruption and quorum sensing (QS) inhibition. Additionally, long-chain fatty acids, particularly omega-3 and omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids, exhibit anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. This review synthesises current evidence on fatty acids as prebiotics, emphasising their mechanisms of action and therapeutic potential against drug-resistant biofilm-associated infections. Given the increasing prevalence of antimicrobial resistance, unsaturated and essential fatty acids rep-resent promising candidates for innovative biofilm-control strategies.