Fast-Bactericidal Effect of Polyion Complex Nanoparticles on Gram-Negative Bacteria

Abstract

There is urgent need for effective bactericidal agents for use in real commercial formulations since many old disinfectants, such as halogenated compounds, are now banned. Cationic polymers may have good bactericidal properties in pure water or buffer, but typically become ineffective in the presence of anionic surfactants that are widely used in many commercial formulations. Here, we discover that polyion complex (PIC) nanoparticles formed by cationic polymers of Poly(3-AcrylaMidoPropyl) TriMethylAmmonium chloride (PAMPTMA) in the presence of anionic surfactants display promising fast-bactericidal effect (> 99.99 % killing within 10-min treatment) on Gram-negative Escherichia coli (E. coli, ATCC ® 8739™). To examine the influence of hydrophobicity on bactericidal property, we synthesize PAMPTMA-b-Poly(Butyl MethAcrylate) and discover that increasing hydrophobicity has little influence on bactericidal property of PIC nanoparticles. Mechanism study shows that cationic PIC nanoparticles rapidly cause significant pores both in the outer-and inner-membranes because of their large size and high local concentration of positive charges. The rapid membrane pore formation results in fast cell death. The discovery --certain cationic polymers when formulated with anionic surfactants are even more bactericidal than neat cationic polymers alone --paves the way for potential applications of synthetic cationic polymers in commercial formulations.

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“…The authors described that changes in hydrophobicity had little influence on the biological property of nanoparticles. A model bacterium ( Escherichia coli ) was used to assess the disinfectant power, and the results showed a rapid inhibitory effect (> 99.99% of death within 10 min of treatment) [ 74 ] Biogenic nanoparticles Iron Silver The authors synthesized via FeG nanoparticles co-doped with Mn-Ag from the extract of Solanum trilobatum leaves. The characterization of the nanoparticles indicated iron particles in a spherical shape.…”

Self-Patterned Nanoscale Topography of Thin Copolymer Films Prepared by Evaporative Assembly-Resist Early-Stage Bacterial Adhesion

“…Considering that bacterial adhesion is the critical first step for biofilm formation, inhibition of bacterial adhesion is an attractive approach to the prevention of surface biofouling. − Currently, there are several proposed approaches to create such an antibacterial surface. One of these methods is to chemically modify the material surface with the functionalization or immobilization of various antimicrobial agents, including metal nanoparticles, − antimicrobial compounds, − and quaternary ammonium compounds. , For example, Yang and coworkers functionalized the polyvinyl chloride surface with an antioxidant precursor N -acetylcysteine by plasma immersion ion implantation treatment, and this caused significant reduction in biofilm viability for both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria . Chen et al studied the effect of surface-tethered functional peptides with different poly­(ethylene oxide) (PEO) chain lengths on cell behaviors and found that the medium-length PEO assisted the functional peptides to achieve optimal antifouling behavior .…”

The function of peptide-mimetic anionic groups and salt bridges in the antimicrobial activity and conformation of cationic amphiphilic copolymers

“…[19][20][21] Recently, the approach has been extended to block copolymers with specic sequences, 22,23 branched polymers, [24][25][26] comb-like polymers, 27,28 polymer assemblies and micelles, 29,30 and single-chain polymer nanoparticles. [31][32][33] In addition, polymers with facially cationic amphiphilicity in the side chains have shown to promote effective interactions of the polymer with the bacterial cell membrane, causing subsequent membrane disruption. 34 While these cationic amphiphilic copolymers and macromolecules are promising platforms, the sequences of natural AMPs contain functional groups other than cationic and hydrophobic residues, and these functional groups control their stability of active conformations and specicity toward bacterial cell membranes.…”