title: Enzyme-responsive polyion complex (PIC) nanoparticles for the targeted delivery of antimicrobial polymers.
abstract: Here we present new enzyme-responsive polyion complex (PIC) nanoparticles prepared from antimicrobial poly(ethylene imine) and an anionic enzyme-responsive peptide targetingPseudomonas aeruginosa's elastase. The synthetic conditions used to prepare these nanomaterials allowed us to optimise particle size and charge, and their stability under physiological conditions. We demonstrate that these enzyme responsive PIC nanoparticles are selectively degraded in the presence ofP. aeruginosaelastase without being affected by other endogenous elastases. This enzyme-responsive PIC particle can exert an elastase-specific antimicrobial effect againstP. aeruginosawithout affecting non-pathogenic strains of these bacteria. These targeted enzyme-responsive PIC nanoparticles constitute a novel platform for the delivery of antimicrobial peptides and polymers, and can be a powerful tool in the current race against antimicrobial resistance.
authors.affiliation: School of Chemistry , University of Birmingham , B15 2TT Birmingham , UK.
authors.forename: Ignacio
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Insua
authors.affiliation: School of Chemical Engineering , University of Birmingham , B15 2TT Birmingham , UK.
authors.forename: Evangelos
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Liamas
authors.affiliation: School of Chemical Engineering , University of Birmingham , B15 2TT Birmingham , UK.
authors.forename: Zhenyu
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: School of Chemistry , University of Birmingham , B15 2TT Birmingham , UK.
authors.forename: Anna F A
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Peacock
authors.affiliation: School of Biosciences , University of Birmingham , B15 2TT Birmingham , UK ; Institute of Microbiology and Infection , University of Birmingham , B15 2TT Birmingham , UK . Email: f.fernandez-trillo@bham.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Anne Marie
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Krachler
authors.affiliation: School of Chemistry , University of Birmingham , B15 2TT Birmingham , UK ; Institute of Microbiology and Infection , University of Birmingham , B15 2TT Birmingham , UK . Email: f.fernandez-trillo@bham.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fernandez-Trillo