title: Biohybrid polymer-antimicrobial peptide medium against Enterococcus faecalis.
abstract: Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are conserved evolutionary components of the innate immune system that are being tested as alternatives to antibiotics. Slow release of AMPs using biodegradable polymers can be advantageous in maintaining high peptide levels for topical treatment, especially in the oral environment in which dosage retention is challenged by drug dilution with saliva flow and by drug inactivation by salivary enzymatic activity. Enterococcus faecalis is a multidrug resistant nosocomial pathogen and a persistent pathogen in root canal infections. In this study, four ultra-short lipopeptides (C16-KGGK, C16-KLLK, C16-KAAK and C16-KKK) and an amphipathic α-helical antimicrobial peptide (Amp-1D) were tested against E. faecalis. The antibacterial effect was determined against planktonic bacteria and bacteria grown in biofilm. Of the five tested AMPs, C16-KGGK was the most effective. Next C16-KGGK was formulated with one of two polymers poly (lactic acid co castor oil) (DLLA) or ricinoleic acid-based poly (ester-anhydride) P(SA-RA). Peptide-synthetic polymer conjugates, also referred to as biohybrid mediums were tested for antibacterial activity against E. faecalis grown in suspension and in biofilms. The new formulations exhibited strong and improved anti-E. faecalis activity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Prosthodontics, the Hebrew University - Faculty of Dental Medicine, Jerusalem, Israel.
authors.forename: Lea H
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Eckhard
authors.affiliation: Institute of Dental Science, the Hebrew University - Faculty of Dental Medicine, Jerusalem, Israel.
authors.forename: Asaf
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sol
authors.affiliation: Institute for Drug Research, School of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, the Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel.
authors.forename: Ester
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Abtew
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Chemistry, the Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel.
authors.forename: Yechiel
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shai
authors.affiliation: Institute for Drug Research, School of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, the Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel.
authors.forename: Abraham J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Domb
authors.affiliation: Institute of Dental Science, the Hebrew University - Faculty of Dental Medicine, Jerusalem, Israel.
authors.forename: Gilad
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bachrach
authors.affiliation: Department of Prosthodontics, the Hebrew University - Faculty of Dental Medicine, Jerusalem, Israel.
authors.forename: Nurit
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Beyth
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018441:Biofilms / Q000187:drug effects*; D002463:Cell Membrane Permeability / Q000187:drug effects*; D013293:Enterococcus faecalis / Q000187:drug effects*; D016908:Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D011108:Polymers / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; D011108:Polymers