title: Poly(ethylene imine)s as antimicrobial agents with selective activity.
abstract: We report the structure-activity relationship in the antimicrobial activity of linear and branched poly(ethylene imine)s (L- and B-PEIs) with a range of molecular weights (MWs) (500-12,000). Both L- and B-PEIs displayed enhanced activity against Staphylococcus aureus over Escherichia coli. Both B- and L-PEIs did not cause any significant permeabilization of E. coli cytoplasmic membrane. L-PEIs induced depolarization of S. aureus membrane although B-PEIs did not. The low MW B-PEIs caused little or no hemolysis while L-PEIs are hemolytic. The low MW B-PEIs are less cytotoxic to human HEp-2 cells than other PEIs. However, they induced significant cell viability reduction after 24 h incubation. The results presented here highlight the interplay between polymer size and structure on activity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Michigan, Michigan 48109, USA.
authors.forename: Katherine A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Gibney
authors.forename: Iva
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sovadinova
authors.forename: Analette I
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Lopez
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Urban
authors.forename: Zachary
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Ridgway
authors.forename: Gregory A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Caputo
authors.forename: Kenichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kuroda
mesh_terms: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002460:Cell Line; D002850:Chromatography, Gel; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007097:Imines / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D011095:Polyethylenes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011199:Potentiometry; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D007097:Imines; D011095:Polyethylenes; C505405:poly(ethylene imine)