A Dicationic BODIPY-Based Fluorescent Bactericide to Combat Infectious Diseases and to Eradicate Bacterial Biofilms

Increased bacterial resistance against extensively used common disinfectants has begun to emerge. The discovery of disinfectants substituting the current commercially available ones is strongly needed. For this purpose, a dicationic BODIPY-based fluorescent amphiphile has been synthesized by specific molecular design. This quaternized BODIPY behaves as a broad-spectrum disinfectant against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria strains. It exhibits potent antimicrobial activity against tested microorganisms when compared with structurally similar disinfectant benzalkonium chloride (BAC). Moreover, it shows antibiofilm activity against Staphylococcus epidermidis with a minimum biofilm eradication concentration as low as 16 mu g/mL. The interaction of this compound with the bacterial cell and genomic DNA was further evaluated by fluorescence spectroscopy and microscopy to follow cell internationalization and to clarify the mechanism of antibacterial action.

Automated summary

A new dicationic BODIPY-based fluorescent amphiphile with broad-spectrum antibacterial activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria has been synthesized. It exhibits stronger antimicrobial activity compared to benzalkonium chloride (BAC), a structurally similar disinfectant. The compound also shows antibiofilm activity against Staphylococcus epidermidis with a low minimum biofilm eradication concentration. Its interaction with bacterial cell and genomic DNA was further evaluated to understand its antibacterial mechanism.