title: Cationic Pillararenes Potently Inhibit Biofilm Formation without Affecting Bacterial Growth and Viability.
abstract: It is estimated that up to 80% of bacterial infections are accompanied by biofilm formation. Since bacteria in biofilms are less susceptible to antibiotics than are bacteria in the planktonic state, biofilm-associated infections pose a major health threat, and there is a pressing need for antibiofilm agents. Here we report that water-soluble cationic pillararenes differing in the quaternary ammonium groups efficiently inhibited the formation of biofilms by clinically important Gram-positive pathogens. Biofilm inhibition did not result from antimicrobial activity; thus, the compounds should not inhibit growth of natural bacterial flora. Moreover, none of the cationic pillararenes caused detectable membrane damage to red blood cells or toxicity to human cells in culture. The results indicate that cationic pillararenes have potential for use in medical applications in which biofilm formation is a problem.
authors.affiliation: School of Chemistry, Raymond and Beverly Sackler Faculty of Exact Sciences, Tel Aviv University , Tel Aviv 69978, Israel.
authors.forename: Roymon
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Joseph
authors.affiliation: School of Chemistry, Raymond and Beverly Sackler Faculty of Exact Sciences, Tel Aviv University , Tel Aviv 69978, Israel.
authors.forename: Alissa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Naugolny
authors.affiliation: School of Chemistry, Raymond and Beverly Sackler Faculty of Exact Sciences, Tel Aviv University , Tel Aviv 69978, Israel.
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Feldman
authors.affiliation: School of Chemistry, Raymond and Beverly Sackler Faculty of Exact Sciences, Tel Aviv University , Tel Aviv 69978, Israel.
authors.forename: Ido M
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Herzog
authors.affiliation: School of Chemistry, Raymond and Beverly Sackler Faculty of Exact Sciences, Tel Aviv University , Tel Aviv 69978, Israel.
authors.forename: Micha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fridman
authors.affiliation: School of Chemistry, Raymond and Beverly Sackler Faculty of Exact Sciences, Tel Aviv University , Tel Aviv 69978, Israel.
authors.forename: Yoram
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Cohen
mesh_terms: D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018441:Biofilms / Q000187:drug effects*; D002412:Cations / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D002460:Cell Line; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004912:Erythrocytes; D006094:Gram-Positive Bacteria / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development*; D006801:Humans; D050296:Microbial Viability / Q000187:drug effects*; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship
chemical_list: D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; D002412:Cations