title: A bactericidal calix[4]arene-based nanoconstruct with amplified NO photorelease.
abstract: A hydrophobic N-dodecyl-3-(trifluoromethyl)-4-nitrobenzenamine has been synthesized as a suitable NO photodonor and encapsulated in a nanocontainer based on a polycationic calix[4]arene derivative, leading to a supramolecular micellar-like nanoassembly ca. 45 nm in diameter. Visible light excitation of this nanoconstruct triggers NO generation with an efficiency remarkably higher than that observed for the free NO photoreleaser. This amplified NO release results in considerable antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 6538) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 9027) as representative Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria, respectively.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Photochemistry, Department of Drug Science, Viale Andrea Doria 6, 95125, Catania, Italy. ssortino@unict.it.
authors.forename: Ivana
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Di Bari
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Picciotto
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Granata
authors.forename: Anna R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Blanco
authors.forename: Grazia M L
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Consoli
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sortino
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D047250:Calixarenes / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D057927:Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; D008823:Micelles; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000737:chemistry*; D009578:Nitrobenzenes / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry; D010636:Phenols / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D055668:Photochemical Processes; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000187:drug effects; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D008823:Micelles; D009578:Nitrobenzenes; D010636:Phenols; C121325:calix(4)arene; D047250:Calixarenes; D009569:Nitric Oxide; C036077:nitrobenzene