Translation of ceragenin affinity for bacteria to an imaging reagent for infection. Issue 25 (8th May 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bandara, Nilantha; Li, Yubo; Diebolder, Philipp; Mpoy, Cedric; Gu, Xiaobo; Khanal, Pitambar; Deng, Shenglou; Rogers, Buck E.; Savage, Paul B.
• Is Part Of: RSC advances. Volume 9:Issue 25(2019)
• Page Start: 14472
• Page End: 14476
• Publication Date: 2019-05-08
• Subjects: Chemistry -- Periodicals; 540.5
• DOI: 10.1039/c9ra02226k
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2046-2069

Abstract

Abstract : Infection imaged via autoradiography with ceragenin conjugated to a copper radiolabel. Abstract : Responses to bacterial infections may be manifest systemically without evidence of the location of the infection site. A rapid means of pinpointing infection sites would be useful in providing effective and possibly localized treatment. Successful means of identifying infection sites would require two components: (1) a molecule capable of recognizing bacteria and (2) a means of communicating recognition. For the recognition element, we used a ceragenin, a small molecule with affinity for bacterial membranes that was designed as a mimic of endogenous antimicrobial peptides. For the communication element, we used 64 Cu, which is a positron emitter. By conjugating a copper chelating group to the ceragenin, the two elements were combined. Chelation of 64 Cu by the conjugate was effective and provided a stable complex that allowed in vivo imaging. When administered to mice in a thigh infection model, the 64 Cu-labeled conjugate accumulated at the site of infection (right thigh) without accumulation at the complementary site (left thigh). This conjugate may provide a means of identifying infection sites in patients presenting general signs of infection without localized symptoms.