Bacterial resistance evolution necessitates the continuous
adaptation
of antimicrobial agents. In this study, we systematically investigated
the antibacterial and biofilm-inhibition mechanisms of plant extracts,
including methyleugenol and eugenol, and further explored their potential
for immobilization in practical applications. Our findings revealed
that eugenol exhibited robust antibacterial activity by disrupting
bacterial redox balance and membrane permeability. Methyleugenol,
on the other hand, efficiently mitigated biofilm formation by inhibiting
the quorum sensing (QS) system and depolarizing the cell membrane.
Through gene expression analysis and molecular docking studies, we
confirmed that methyleugenol suppressed the transcriptional expression
of QS regulatory genes by competitively binding to the RhlR receptor
protein, thereby reducing the secretion of extracellular polymeric
substances and inhibiting the biofilm formation. Furthermore, we observed
an upregulation of multiple efflux pump MexAB-OprM as a response to bacterial reductive stress during compound exposure.
To expand the practical utility of these findings, we successfully
grafted methyleugenol onto glass surfaces using the atom transfer
radical polymerization method, demonstrating enduring antibacterial
and antibiofilm properties. Overall, our study offers a comprehensive
understanding of the antibacterial and antibiofilm mechanisms of methyleugenol
and eugenol, with promising applications for enhancing ecomaterial
functionalization