Overcoming multidrug resistance in microbials using nanostructures self-assembled from cationic bent-core oligomers

Shao Qiong Liu; Shrinivas Venkataraman; Zhan Yuin Ong; Julian M W Chan; Chuan Yang; James L Hedrick; Yi Yan Yang

doi:10.1002/smll.201303921

Overcoming multidrug resistance in microbials using nanostructures self-assembled from cationic bent-core oligomers

Small. 2014 Oct 29;10(20):4130-5. doi: 10.1002/smll.201303921. Epub 2014 Jun 26.

Authors

Shao Qiong Liu¹, Shrinivas Venkataraman, Zhan Yuin Ong, Julian M W Chan, Chuan Yang, James L Hedrick, Yi Yan Yang

Affiliation

¹ Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, 31 Biopolis Way, The Nanos, Singapore, 138669, Singapore.

PMID: 24975599
DOI: 10.1002/smll.201303921

Abstract

Novel cationic molecules based on rigid terephthalamide-bisurea cores flanked by imidazolium moieties are described. In aqueous media, these compounds self-assemble into supramolecular nanostructures with distinct morphologies. The compound with optimal hydrophilic/hydrophobic balance displays potent antimicrobial activity and high selectivity towards clinically-isolated MRSA without inducing drug-resistance. These self-assembled cationic antimicrobial nanostructures show promise for the prevention and treatment of multidrug-resistant infections.

Keywords: antimicrobial; multidrug resistance; nanostructures; self-assembly; small cationic oligomers.

MeSH terms

Cations
Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial*
Microscopy, Electron, Scanning
Microscopy, Electron, Transmission
Nanostructures*
Polymers / chemistry*

Substances

Cations
Polymers