title: Polymer-Ag nanocomposites with enhanced antimicrobial activity against bacterial infection.
abstract: Herein, a nontoxic nanocomposite is synthesized by reduction of silver nitrate in the presence of a cationic polymer displaying strong antimicrobial activity against bacterial infection. These nanocomposites with a large concentration of positive charge promote their adsorption to bacterial membranes through electrostatic interaction. Moreover, the synthesized nanocomposites with polyvalent and synergistic antimicrobial effects can effectively kill both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria without the emergence of bacterial resistance. Morphological changes obtained by transmission electron microscope observation show that these nanocomposites can cause leakage and chaos of intracellular contents. Analysis of the antimicrobial mechanism confirms that the lethal action of nanocomposites against the bacteria started with disruption of the bacterial membrane, subsequent cellular internalization of the nanoparticles, and inhibition of intracellular enzymatic activity. This novel antimicrobial material with good cytocompatibility promotes healing of infected wounds in diabetic rats, and has a promising future in the treatment of other infectious diseases.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Functional Polymer Materials of Ministry Education, Institute of Polymer Chemistry, Nankai University , Tianjin 300071, China.
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mei
authors.forename: Zhentan
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Xinge
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Chaoxing
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Yanxia
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Jia
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000382:microbiology; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000187:drug effects; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry; D008689:Methacrylates / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D050296:Microbial Viability / Q000187:drug effects*; D053761:Nanocomposites / Q000737:chemistry*; D009757:Nylons / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry; D051381:Rats; D012834:Silver / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D008689:Methacrylates; D009757:Nylons; D011108:Polymers; C407037:poly(2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate); D012834:Silver
keywords: antibacterial material; bacterial infection; cationic polymers; silver nanoparticles; wound healing