title: The antimicrobial activity of free and immobilized poly (diallyldimethylammonium) chloride in nanoparticles of poly (methylmethacrylate).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Several cationic polymers exhibit a useful antimicrobial property, however the structure-activity relationship still requires a more complete investigation. The main objective of this work is the comparison between the antimicrobial activity and toxicity of free and immobilized poly (diallyldimethylammonium) chloride (PDDA) in biocompatible poly (methylmethacrylate) (PMMA) nanoparticles (NPs).
  
  
  RESULTS
  NPs synthesis by emulsion polymerization is performed over a range of [PDDA] at two methylmethacrylate (MMA) concentrations. The PMMA/PDDA dispersions are characterized by dynamic light-scattering for sizing, polydispersity and zeta-potential analysis, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), plating plus colony forming unities (CFU) counting for determination of the minimal microbicidal concentrations (MMC) against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans and hemolysis evaluation against mammalian erythrocytes. There is a high colloidal stability for the cationic PMMA/PDDA NPs over a range of [PDDA]. NPs diverse antimicrobial activity against the microorganisms reduces cell viability by eight-logs (E. coli), seven-logs (S. aureus) or two-logs (C. albicans). The NPs completely kill E. coli over a range of [PDDA] that are innocuous to the erythrocytes. Free PDDA antimicrobial activity is higher than the one observed for PDDA in the NPs. There is no PDDA induced-hemolysis at the MMC in contrast to the hemolytic effect of immobilized PDDA in the NPs. Hemolysis is higher than 15 % for immobilized PDDA at the MMC for S. aureus and C. albicans.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The mobility of the cationic antimicrobial polymer PDDA determines its access to the inner layers of the cell wall and the cell membrane, the major sites of PDDA antimicrobial action. PDDA freedom does matter for determining the antimicrobial activity at low PDDA concentrations and absence of hemolysis.
authors.affiliation: Biocolloids Lab, Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, Caixa Postal 26077, CEP 05513-970, São Paulo, SP, Brazil. luccas.sanches@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Luccas Missfeldt
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Sanches
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, Caixa Postal 26077, CEP 05513-970, São Paulo, SP, Brazil. dfsp@usp.br.
authors.forename: Denise Freitas Siqueira
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Petri
authors.affiliation: Biocolloids Lab, Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, Caixa Postal 26077, CEP 05513-970, São Paulo, SP, 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.forename: Letícia Dias
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: de Melo Carrasco
authors.affiliation: Biocolloids Lab, Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, Caixa Postal 26077, CEP 05513-970, São Paulo, SP, 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.forename: Ana Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Carmona-Ribeiro
mesh_terms: D000498:Allyl Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000187:drug effects; D002177:Candidiasis / Q000188:drug therapy; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000737:chemistry*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate / Q000737:chemistry*; D000644:Quaternary Ammonium Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000188:drug therapy; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000498:Allyl Compounds; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D004337:Drug Carriers; D000644:Quaternary Ammonium Compounds; C508190:diallyldimethylammonium chloride; D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate