Magnetic Resonance Reveals Radical Stability in Native Biofilms and its Role in Bacterial Resistance

Abstract

Bacterial biofilms exhibit enhanced antimicrobial resistance, yet the mechanisms determining molecular transport and reactivity within these complex communities remain poorly understood. Here, we combine electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), solid-state NMR (ssNMR), and dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) ssNMR to determine how native Pseudomonas fluorescens Pf0-1 colony biofilms regulate nitroxide radicals. EPR measurements reveal that radical reduction depends on biofilm morphology, hydration, and composition of extracellular matrix (ECM). Wild-type biofilms exhibit slower nitroxide reduction than planktonic cells, while isolated ECM and dehydrated biofilms show no radical reduction, indicating that bacterial cells primarily drive radical reduction. Complementary ssNMR measurements identify polysaccharides and lipids within the ECM as primary interaction sites for nitroxide radicals. DNP-enhanced ssNMR further reveals compositional differences across biofilm morphologies, with increasingly polysaccharide-rich ECM environments correlating with slower reduction kinetics. These findings support a mechanism in which the ECM acts as a diffusion barrier and selective interaction region for nitroxide radicals to regulate cellular penetration. This work showcases an integrated magnetic resonance approach that provides molecular insight into how biofilm structure determines the fate of toxic redox-active small molecules. We also set the stage for high-sensitivity measurements of structure-function relationships in these medically relevant assemblies.