Supramolecular Cationic Assemblies against Multidrug-Resistant Microorganisms: Activity and Mechanism of Action

International Journal of Molecular Sciences

Letໜia Dias de Melo Carrasco²  Jorge Luiz Mello Sampaio¹  Ana Maria Carmona-Ribeiro² 

[1] Departamento de Análises Clínicas e Toxicológicas, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade de São Paulo, CEP 05508-900 São Paulo, Brazil; E-Mail:;Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, Caixa Postal 26077, CEP 05513-970 São Paulo, Brazil; E-Mail:

关键词: multidrug-resistant microbes;    viable cells counting;    broad-spectrum and antimicrobial activity;    biocompatible cationic polymer;    self-assembled;    cationic and hybrid nanoparticles;    nanoparticles disassembly;    leakage of intracellular compounds;    damage to the cell wall;    scanning electron microscopy;   

DOI  :  10.3390/ijms16036337

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

The growing challenge of antimicrobial resistance to antibiotics requires novel synthetic drugs or new formulations for old drugs. Here, cationic nanostructured particles (NPs) self-assembled from cationic bilayer fragments and polyelectrolytes are tested against four multidrug-resistant (MDR) strains of clinical importance. The non-hemolytic poly(diallyldimethylammonium) chloride (PDDA) polymer as the outer NP layer shows a remarkable activity against these organisms. The mechanism of cell death involves bacterial membrane lysis as determined from the leakage of inner phosphorylated compounds and possibly disassembly of the NP with the appearance of multilayered fibers made of the NP components and the biopolymers withdrawn from the cell wall. The NPs display broad-spectrum activity against MDR microorganisms, including Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria and yeast.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2015 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.