title: Biodegradable nanostructures with selective lysis of microbial membranes.
abstract: Macromolecular antimicrobial agents such as cationic polymers and peptides have recently been under an increased level of scrutiny because they can combat multi-drug-resistant microbes. Most of these polymers are non-biodegradable and are designed to mimic the facially amphiphilic structure of peptides so that they may form a secondary structure on interaction with negatively charged microbial membranes. The resulting secondary structure can insert into and disintegrate the cell membrane after recruiting additional polymer molecules. Here, we report the first biodegradable and in vivo applicable antimicrobial polymer nanoparticles synthesized by metal-free organocatalytic ring-opening polymerization of functional cyclic carbonate. We demonstrate that the nanoparticles disrupt microbial walls/membranes selectively and efficiently, thus inhibiting the growth of Gram-positive bacteria, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and fungi, without inducing significant haemolysis over a wide range of concentrations. These biodegradable nanoparticles, which can be synthesized in large quantities and at low cost, are promising as antimicrobial drugs, and can be used to treat various infectious diseases such as MRSA-associated infections, which are often linked with high mortality.
authors.affiliation: IBM Almaden Research Center, 650 Harry Road, San Jose, California 95120, USA.
authors.forename: Fredrik
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Nederberg
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Jeremy P K
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.forename: Kaijin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Huaying
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Chuan
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Shujun
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Xin Dong
authors.initials: XD
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Kazuki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fukushima
authors.forename: Lanjuan
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: James L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Hedrick
authors.forename: Yi-Yan
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D005658:Fungi / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D049329:Nanostructures