Journal
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY
Volume 144, Issue 4, Pages 1690-1699Publisher
AMER CHEMICAL SOC
DOI: 10.1021/jacs.1c10659
Keywords
-
Categories
Funding
- National Natural Science Foundation of China [21574038, 22075078, 21861162010, 51621002]
- Program of Shanghai Academic/Technology Research Leader [20XD1421400]
- Shanghai Frontier Science Research Base of Optogenetic Techniques for Cell Metabolism (Shanghai Municipal Education Commission) [2021 Sci Tech 0328]
- Research program of State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering
- Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities [JKD01211520]
- U.S. National Science Foundation [CHE-1904940]
Ask authors/readers for more resources
Recent interest in developing antibacterial polymers as synthetic mimics of host defense peptides (HDPs) has focused on incorporating positively charged moieties to improve antibacterial activity and reduce eukaryotic toxicity. This study found that a secondary ammonium is superior to primary or tertiary ammoniums in antibacterial beta-peptide polymers, showing potent antibacterial activity and high selectivity. The optimal polymer displayed strong activity against antibiotic-resistant bacteria and showed high therapeutic efficacy with low toxicity.
Interest in developing antibacterial polymers as synthetic mimics of host defense peptides (HPDs) has accelerated in recent years to combat antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections. Positively charged moieties are critical in defining the antibacterial activity and eukaryotic toxicity of HDP mimics. Most examples have utilized primary amines or guanidines as the source of positively charged moieties, inspired by the lysine and arginine residues in HDPs. Here, we explore the impact of amine group variation (primary, secondary, or tertiary amine) on the antibacterial performance of HDP-mimicking beta-peptide polymers. Our studies show that a secondary ammonium is superior to either a primary ammonium or a tertiary ammonium as the cationic moiety in antibacterial beta-peptide polymers. The optimal polymer, a homopolymer bearing secondary amino groups, displays potent antibacterial activity and the highest selectivity (low hemolysis and cytotoxicity). The optimal polymer displays potent activity against antibiotic-resistant bacteria and high therapeutic efficacy in treating MRSA-induced wound infections and keratitis as well as low acute dermal toxicity and low corneal epithelial cytotoxicity. This work suggests that secondary amines may be broadly useful in the design of antibacterial polymers.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available