title: Self-assembled cationic peptide nanoparticles as an efficient antimicrobial agent.
abstract: Antimicrobial cationic peptides are of interest because they can combat multi-drug-resistant microbes. Most peptides form alpha-helices or beta-sheet-like structures that can insert into and subsequently disintegrate negatively charged bacterial cell surfaces. Here, we show that a novel class of core-shell nanoparticles formed by self-assembly of an amphiphilic peptide have strong antimicrobial properties against a range of bacteria, yeasts and fungi. The nanoparticles show a high therapeutic index against Staphylococcus aureus infection in mice and are more potent than their unassembled peptide counterparts. Using Staphylococcus aureus-infected meningitis rabbits, we show that the nanoparticles can cross the blood-brain barrier and suppress bacterial growth in infected brains. Taken together, these nanoparticles are promising antimicrobial agents that can be used to treat brain infections and other infectious diseases.
authors: Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, 31 Biopolis Way, Singapore 138669, Singapore.
authors: Lihong
authors: L
authors: Liu
authors: Kaijin
authors: K
authors: Xu
authors: Huaying
authors: H
authors: Wang
authors: P K Jeremy
authors: PK
authors: Tan
authors: Weimin
authors: W
authors: Fan
authors: Subbu S
authors: SS
authors: Venkatraman
authors: Lanjuan
authors: L
authors: Li
authors: Yi-Yan
authors: YY
authors: Yang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001412:Bacillus subtilis / Q000187:drug effects; D001812:Blood-Brain Barrier / Q000378:metabolism; D003455:Cryptococcus neoformans / Q000187:drug effects; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D005260:Female; D016920:Meningitis, Bacterial / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008823:Micelles; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D011817:Rabbits; D013191:Stachybotrys / Q000187:drug effects; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; D008823:Micelles