title: Quaternized and Thiazole-Functionalized Free Radical-Generating Organometallic Dendrimers as Antimicrobial Platform against Multidrug-Resistant Microorganisms.
abstract: New macromolecules such as dendrimers are increasingly needed to drive breakthroughs in diverse areas, for example, healthcare. Here, the authors report hybrid antimicrobial dendrimers synthesized by functionalizing organometallic dendrimers with quaternary ammonium groups or 2-mercaptobenzothiazole. The functionalization tunes the glass transition temperature and antimicrobial activities of the dendrimers. Electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy reveals that the dendrimers form free radicals, which have significant implications for catalysis and biology. In vitro antimicrobial assays indicate that the dendrimers are potent antimicrobial agents with activity against multidrug-resistant pathogens such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium as well as other microorganisms. The functionalization increases the activity, especially in the quaternary ammonium group-functionalized dendrimers. Importantly, the activities are selective because human epidermal keratinocytes cells and BJ fibroblast cells exposed to the dendrimers are viable after 24 h.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Prince Edward Island, 550 University Avenue, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, C1A 4P3, Canada.
authors.forename: Alaa S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Abd-El-Aziz
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Prince Edward Island, 550 University Avenue, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, C1A 4P3, Canada.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Agatemor
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Prince Edward Island, 550 University Avenue, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, C1A 4P3, Canada.
authors.forename: Nola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Etkin
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Prince Edward Island, 550 University Avenue, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, C1A 4P3, Canada.
authors.forename: Rabin
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bissessur
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Prince Edward Island, 550 University Avenue, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, C1A 4P3, Canada.|Department of Pathology and Microbiology, Atlantic Veterinary College, University of Prince Edward Island, 550 University Avenue, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, C1A 4P3, Canada.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Overy
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Prince Edward Island, 550 University Avenue, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, C1A 4P3, Canada.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lanteigne
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Prince Edward Island, 550 University Avenue, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, C1A 4P3, Canada.
authors.forename: Katherine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: McQuillan
authors.affiliation: Nautilus Biosciences Canada Inc., Duffy Research Center, University of Prince Edward Island, 550 University Avenue, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, C1A 4P3, Canada.|Department of Biomedical Sciences, Atlantic Veterinary College, University of Prince Edward Island, 550 University Avenue, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, C1A 4P3, Canada.
authors.forename: Russell G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Kerr
mesh_terms: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D050091:Dendrimers / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D024901:Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial / Q000187:drug effects*; D016984:Enterococcus faecium / Q000254:growth & development*; D055624:Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / Q000254:growth & development*; D009942:Organometallic Compounds / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D013844:Thiazoles / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D020713:Vancomycin Resistance / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D050091:Dendrimers; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D013844:Thiazoles
keywords: antimicrobial; dendrimers; functionalization; multidrug-resistance; quaternization