title: Polycarbonates with Potent and Selective Antimicrobial Activity toward Gram-Positive Bacteria.
abstract: The resistance developed by life-threatening bacteria toward conventional antibiotics has become a major concern in public health. To combat antibiotic resistance, there has been a significant interest in the development of antimicrobial cationic polymers due to the ease of synthesis and low manufacturing cost compared to host-defense peptides (HDPs). Herein, we report the design and synthesis of amphiphilic polycarbonates containing primary amino groups. These polymers exhibit potent antimicrobial activity and excellent selectivity to Gram-positive bacteria, including multidrug resistant pathogens. Fluorescence and TEM studies suggest that these polymers are likely to kill bacteria by disrupting bacterial membranes. These polymers also show low tendency to elicit resistance in bacteria. Their further development may lead to new antimicrobial agents combating drug-resistance.
authors.forename: Alekhya
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nimmagadda
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, Shuguang Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine , Shanghai 201203, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Xuan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Peng
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Teng
authors.forename: Ma
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Su
authors.forename: Yaqiong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Qiao
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Qiao
authors.forename: Nawal K
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Khadka
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, Shuguang Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine , Shanghai 201203, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Xiaoting
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Jianjun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.affiliation: College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Central South University , Changsha, HN 410083, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Hai
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-1610-9556
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, Shuguang Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine , Shanghai 201203, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Qi
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Jianfeng
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-3106-3306
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cai
mesh_terms: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006094:Gram-Positive Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D011076:Polycarboxylate Cement / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D011076:Polycarboxylate Cement; D011108:Polymers; C005506:polycarbonate