Bacterial biofilms are structured microbial communities embedded in a self‐produced extracellular matrix, displaying enhanced tolerance and, in many cases, resistance to biocides, antimicrobial agents, and host immune responses. These traits make biofilms a major driver of chronic and recurrent infections, which are increasingly difficult to eradicate and represent a significant global health challenge in the context of rising antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Biofilms are recognized as surface and nonsurface‐attached aggregates in diverse clinical, industrial, and environmental settings, broadening our knowledge of their ecological and physiological diversity. Surfactants have emerged as promising antibiofilm agents due to their dual functionality: the capacity to disrupt the extracellular matrix and their inherent antimicrobial activity. Among them, amino acid‐based surfactants, particularly cationic derivatives such as those based on arginine, combine potent biocidal effects with favorable biocompatibility and environmental sustainability. These compounds offer a persuasive alternative to conventional biocides, which often promote cross‐resistance and environmental concerns. This review integrates current knowledge of biofilm formation and persistence with advances in the development and application of amino acid‐based surfactants as antibiofilm agents. Sustainable synthesis of these compounds, as well as mechanistic insights, and the translational challenges of moving from in vitro assays to real‐world scenarios in the AMR era.
Fait et al. (Thu,) studied this question.