title: Supramolecular cationic assemblies against multidrug-resistant microorganisms: activity and mechanism of action.
abstract: The growing challenge of antimicrobial resistance to antibiotics requires novel synthetic drugs or new formulations for old drugs. Here, cationic nanostructured particles (NPs) self-assembled from cationic bilayer fragments and polyelectrolytes are tested against four multidrug-resistant (MDR) strains of clinical importance. The non-hemolytic poly(diallyldimethylammonium) chloride (PDDA) polymer as the outer NP layer shows a remarkable activity against these organisms. The mechanism of cell death involves bacterial membrane lysis as determined from the leakage of inner phosphorylated compounds and possibly disassembly of the NP with the appearance of multilayered fibers made of the NP components and the biopolymers withdrawn from the cell wall. The NPs display broad-spectrum activity against MDR microorganisms, including Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria and yeast.
authors: Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, Caixa Postal 26077, CEP 05513-970 São Paulo, Brazil. lemelodias@usp.br.|Departamento de Análises Clínicas e Toxicológicas, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade de São Paulo, CEP 05508-900 São Paulo, Brazil. lemelodias@usp.br.
authors: Letícia Dias de Melo
authors: LD
authors: Carrasco
authors: Departamento de Análises Clínicas e Toxicológicas, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade de São Paulo, CEP 05508-900 São Paulo, Brazil. sampaio@usp.br.
authors: Jorge Luiz Mello
authors: JL
authors: Sampaio
authors: Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, Caixa Postal 26077, CEP 05513-970 São Paulo, Brazil. amcr@usp.br.|Departamento de Análises Clínicas e Toxicológicas, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade de São Paulo, CEP 05508-900 São Paulo, Brazil. amcr@usp.br.
authors: Ana Maria
authors: AM
authors: Carmona-Ribeiro
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D024901:Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects; D006094:Gram-Positive Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D011095:Polyethylenes / Q000494:pharmacology; D000644:Quaternary Ammonium Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D011095:Polyethylenes; D000644:Quaternary Ammonium Compounds; C041004:poly-N,N-dimethyl-N,N-diallylammonium chloride