Abstract

Significance Effective treatment of skin-based bacterial biofilms has been identified as a serious and unmet medical need. Biofilm-protected bacteria account for ∼80% of bacterial infections in humans and are 50–1,000 times more resistant to antibiotics than their planktonic counterparts. Biofilms in skin are further protected by the outermost layer of skin, the stratum corneum, which serves as a natural barrier to most therapeutics. Here, we present compelling evidence for exploiting ionic liquids (ILs) as an arsenal of materials both in a concerted effort to combat antibiotic-resistant bacterial biofilms in skin as well as for topical transdermal drug delivery. Our comprehensive strategy resulted in the identification of ILs that are effective at disrupting biofilms, neutralizing pathogens, and enhancing delivery of antibiotic into skin. Moreover, ILs did not show skin irritation that is typically associated with topical formulations.