Combating drug-resistant bacterial infection using biodegradable nanoparticles assembled from comb-like polycarbonates grafted with amphiphilic polyquaternium. Issue 2 (27th November 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Dong, Yanliang; Zhao, Shuyue; Wang, Changrong; Liu, Wenshuai; Zhang, Yumin; Deng, Liandong; Zhang, Jianhua; Huang, Pingsheng; Wang, Weiwei; Dong, Anjie
• Is Part Of: Journal of materials chemistry. Volume 9:Issue 2(2020)
• Page Start: 357
• Page End: 365
• Publication Date: 2020-11-27
• Subjects: Materials -- Periodicals; Chemistry, Analytic -- Periodicals; Biomedical materials -- Research -- Periodicals; 543.0284
• DOI: 10.1039/d0tb02233k
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2050-750X

Abstract

Abstract : A comb-like cationic polycarbonate grafted with amphiphilic polyquaternium for curbing drug-resistant bacterial infection. Abstract : Bacterial infection is a serious clinical threat. The misuse of antibiotics has already resulted in the emergence of antibiotic-resistant strains of pathogenic bacteria. Efficient membrane-destructive antibacterial agents are considered as an alternative, promising solution against bacterial infection. Herein, we prepared a new type of comb-like cationic, polyethylene glycol (PEG) block polycarbonates with polyquaternium arms (G-CgQAs). The amphiphilic G-CgQAs could self-assemble into about 60 nm sized nanoparticles (NPs) with positive charges (20~30 mV). G-CgQA-3 NPs with an appropriate hydrophobic–hydrophilic balance in the polyquaternium arms showed antibacterial activity against Gram-negative, Gram-positive, and drug-resistant strains at low concentrations (MIC 64–128 μg mL −1 ) and low hemolysis (HC50 > 2000 μg mL −1 ). In vivo anti-infection tests indicated G-CgQA-3 NPs could highly inhibit the growth of vancomycin-resistant bacteria by spraying on wounds. Collectively, G-CgQA NPs hold great promise for the prevention of infection, serving as new antibacterial agents. This study also highlights the significance of a hydrophobic block in positive polyquaternium arms to facilitate the antibacterial activity of cationic, quaternized polymers. The design of comb-like amphiphilic cationic polycarbonates provides a new method for manufacturing antibacterial nano-agents.