title: Overcoming multidrug resistance in microbials using nanostructures self-assembled from cationic bent-core oligomers.
abstract: Novel cationic molecules based on rigid terephthalamide-bisurea cores flanked by imidazolium moieties are described. In aqueous media, these compounds self-assemble into supramolecular nanostructures with distinct morphologies. The compound with optimal hydrophilic/hydrophobic balance displays potent antimicrobial activity and high selectivity towards clinically-isolated MRSA without inducing drug-resistance. These self-assembled cationic antimicrobial nanostructures show promise for the prevention and treatment of multidrug-resistant infections.
authors: Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, 31 Biopolis Way, The Nanos, Singapore, 138669, Singapore.
authors: Shao Qiong
authors: SQ
authors: Liu
authors: Shrinivas
authors: S
authors: Venkataraman
authors: Zhan Yuin
authors: ZY
authors: Ong
authors: Julian M W
authors: JM
authors: Chan
authors: Chuan
authors: C
authors: Yang
authors: James L
authors: JL
authors: Hedrick
authors: Yi Yan
authors: YY
authors: Yang
mesh_terms: D002412:Cations; D024901:Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D049329:Nanostructures; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D002412:Cations; D011108:Polymers
keywords: antimicrobial; multidrug resistance; nanostructures; self-assembly; small cationic oligomers