1. Supramolecular Cationic Assemblies against Multidrug-Resistant Microorganisms: Activity and Mechanism of Action.
- Author
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de Melo Carrasco, Letícia Dias, Mello Sampaio, Jorge Luiz, and Carmona-Ribeiro, Ana Maria
- Subjects
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MULTIDRUG resistance , *ANTI-infective agents , *ANTIBIOTICS , *SYNTHETIC drugs , *THERAPEUTIC use of nanostructured materials , *POLYELECTROLYTES - Abstract
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possibly disassembly of the NP with the appearance of multilayered fibers made of the NP components and the biopolymers withdrawn from the cell wall.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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2015
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