Anti-biofilm technology · Founded 2024–2025

Stopping resistant bacteria before they build their biofilm shield.

BiofilmC is developing a vitamin C (sodium ascorbate) adjunct that prevents biofilm formation by drug-resistant bacteria and helps older antibiotics work again. Our first focus is the bacteria found in diabetic foot ulcers.

See the solutionView the results
117clinical isolates from diabetic foot ulcers
0.625 mg/mlvitamin C that prevented E. coli biofilm
0.312 mg/mlsame effect for E. coli when paired with an antibiotic
Biofilm prevention concentrations At a glance
E. coli52 isolates screened
0.625 mg/ml
Klebsiella spp.46 isolates screened
1.25 mg/ml
Staphylococcus spp.19 isolates screened
0.16 mg/ml
Why it matters: Vitamin C is a familiar, low-cost molecule, and here it blocked biofilm at levels below those that stop growth.
The problem

Resistant biofilms keep chronic wounds infected

Bacteria from diabetic foot ulcers are often resistant to several antibiotics, and many form biofilms that protect them further.

Resistance is widespread

Of 117 isolates, 80 were multidrug resistant, and resistance to oxacillin reached 100%.

Biofilms are common

58 isolates were moderate to strong biofilm formers, across E. coli, Klebsiella and Staphylococcus.

Old antibiotics lose ground

Resistance was high to amoxicillin (82%) and ampicillin (73%), and 62% of isolates resisted meropenem.

Our solution

A simple molecule with three jobs

The study tested sodium ascorbate alone and with antibiotics. BiofilmC builds on the three effects it reported.

Prevent

Blocks biofilm formation

16E. coli isolates turned into non-biofilm formers at 0.625 mg/ml
  • 17 Klebsiella isolates also lost biofilm ability at 1.25 mg/ml
  • Staphylococcus blocked at about 0.16 mg/ml
  • Works below the growth-inhibiting dose
Combine

Boosts old antibiotics

0.076 mg/mlStaphylococcus biofilm prevention level with oxacillin or amoxicillin
  • E. coli level halved to 0.312 mg/ml with either antibiotic
  • Growth inhibition beyond either agent alone in kinetic assays
  • No change seen for Klebsiella
Disarm

Dampens a stress response

10 to 19%drop in ciprofloxacin-induced recA expression in E. coli
  • Seen at 0.3125 mg/ml vitamin C
  • Statistically significant at 0.625 mg/ml
  • recA is linked to the bacterial SOS response
How it works

From isolate to product

Our development path follows the study design and extends it toward use.

  1. 1

    Screen isolates

    Wound isolates are tested for antibiotic resistance and biofilm-forming strength.

    MAR indexBiofilm assay
  2. 2

    Set the dose

    Growth (MIC90) and biofilm prevention concentrations of vitamin C are measured for each species.

    MIC90BPC
  3. 3

    Pair with antibiotics

    Vitamin C is combined with oxacillin or amoxicillin to find lower effective levels.

    OxacillinAmoxicillin
  4. 4

    Formulate for wounds

    The next step is a topical adjunct format that can be tested beyond the laboratory.

    TopicalNext stage
Results

What the in vitro study showed

Laboratory testing on clinical isolates from diabetic foot ulcer patients. No animal or human testing yet.

117isolates collected (52 E. coli, 46 Klebsiella, 19 Staphylococcus)
80multidrug-resistant isolates (MAR index above 0.2)
58moderate to strong biofilm formers
1.25 mg/mlvitamin C MIC90 for E. coli
2.5 mg/mlvitamin C MIC90 for Klebsiella
Vitamin C biofilm prevention concentration (as reported)
SpeciesVitamin C aloneWith oxacillin or amoxicillin
E. coli0.625 mg/ml0.312 mg/ml
Klebsiella spp.1.25 mg/mlUnchanged
Staphylococcus spp.0.16 mg/ml0.076 mg/ml

Source: Rahim et al., BMC Microbiology 25, 212 (2025). doi:10.1186/s12866-025-03800-3

Who it's for

Who it is for

Teams fighting resistant infections where biofilm is part of the problem.

Wound care companies

  • An adjunct for dressings and gels
  • A well-known, low-cost active
  • Data on diabetic foot ulcer isolates

Antibiotic stewardship teams

  • A way to extend older antibiotics
  • Lower antibiotic-adjunct levels in vitro
  • Fits combination strategies

Research partners

  • Isolate panel and assay methods
  • Open questions on Klebsiella
  • Path to animal and clinical testing
Where we are

Where the evidence stands

This is early, laboratory-stage work.

In vitro only

All results come from laboratory assays on isolates. Effects in wounds or patients have not been tested.

Not every species responds

Pairing with antibiotics did not lower the biofilm prevention level for Klebsiella.

Formulation still ahead

A stable product format, dosing and safety in tissue still need to be developed and tested.

The team

The team

Founded in 2024–2025 by the research team behind the vitamin C anti-biofilm study.

SR

S. Rahim

Co-author of the BiofilmC research.

RR

R. Rahman

Co-author of the BiofilmC research.

TJ

T.A. Jhuma

Co-author of the BiofilmC research.

MA

M.I. Ayub

Co-author of the BiofilmC research.

SK

S.N. Khan

Co-author of the BiofilmC research.

AH

Ashfaque Hossain

Co-author of the BiofilmC research.

MK

M.M. Karim

Co-author of the BiofilmC research.

Frequently asked questions

What form of vitamin C was tested?

The study used sodium ascorbate, a salt form of vitamin C.

Which bacteria were studied?

Drug-resistant E. coli, Klebsiella spp. and Staphylococcus spp. isolated from diabetic foot ulcer patients.

Does it replace antibiotics?

No. It is designed as an adjunct. In the study it lowered the biofilm prevention level when combined with oxacillin or amoxicillin for E. coli and Staphylococcus.

Does it work on Klebsiella?

Vitamin C alone prevented Klebsiella biofilm at 1.25 mg/ml, but adding the antibiotics did not lower that level.

Has it been tested in patients?

Not yet. All evidence so far is from in vitro laboratory work.

The research

Peer-reviewed science behind BiofilmC.

Read the full study behind the product.

Read the paper

Rahim, S., Rahman, R., Jhuma, T. A., Ayub, M. I., Khan, S. N., Hossain, A., & Karim, M. M. (2025). Disrupting antimicrobial resistance: Unveiling the potential of vitamin C in combating biofilm formation in drug-resistant bacteria. BMC Microbiology, 25, 212. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12866-025-03800-3

https://doi.org/10.1186/s12866-025-03800-3