title: Cationic methacrylate polymers as topical antimicrobial agents against Staphylococcus aureus nasal colonization.
abstract: The in vitro and in vivo antimicrobial activity of primary ammonium ethyl methacrylate homopolymers (AEMPs) was investigated. AEMPs with different degrees of polymerization (DP = 7.7-12) were prepared by reversible addition-fragmentation chain-transfer (RAFT) polymerization. The AEMPs showed higher inhibitory effects against Gram-positive bacteria, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), than Gram-negative bacteria. The AEMPs also showed potent anti-S. aureus activity in the presence of fetal bovine serum, whereas the activity of the antibiotic mupirocin was reduced under the same conditions. The AEMPs showed very little or no hemolytic activity. The cytotoxicity of AEMPs against mammalian cells HEp-2 and COS-7 was concentration-dependent, and the cell viability significantly decreased at higher polymer concentrations. The AEMPs significantly reduced the number of viable S. aureus cells in the nasal environment of cotton rats when compared to that of the control. This study demonstrates that AEMPs have potential for use in treating topical S. aureus infections.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Michigan , Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States.
authors.forename: Laura M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Thoma
authors.forename: Blaise R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Boles
authors.forename: Kenichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kuroda
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D019556:COS Cells; D002417:Cattle; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000254:growth & development; D006801:Humans; D055624:Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / Q000254:growth & development*; D016712:Mupirocin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D009668:Nose Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D011109:Polymethacrylic Acids / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D016205:Sigmodontinae; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D011109:Polymethacrylic Acids; C030613:polymethacrylic acid; D016712:Mupirocin