Supramolecular Kandinsky circles with high antibacterial activity

Nat Commun. 2018 May 8;9(1):1815. doi: 10.1038/s41467-018-04247-z.

Abstract

Nested concentric structures widely exist in nature and designed systems with circles, polygons, polyhedra, and spheres sharing the same center or axis. It still remains challenging to construct discrete nested architecture at (supra)molecular level. Herein, three generations (G2-G4) of giant nested supramolecules, or Kandinsky circles, have been designed and assembled with molecular weight 17,964, 27,713 and 38,352 Da, respectively. In the ligand preparation, consecutive condensation between precursors with primary amines and pyrylium salts is applied to modularize the synthesis. These discrete nested supramolecules are prone to assemble into tubular nanostructures through hierarchical self-assembly. Furthermore, nested supramolecules display high antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive pathogen methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), and negligible toxicity to eukaryotic cells, while the corresponding ligands do not show potent antimicrobial activity.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / chemistry*
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
  • Drug Resistance, Bacterial
  • Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions
  • Ligands
  • Macromolecular Substances / chemistry*
  • Macromolecular Substances / pharmacology
  • Macromolecular Substances / therapeutic use
  • Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / drug effects*
  • Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / isolation & purification
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Microscopy, Atomic Force
  • Microscopy, Electron, Transmission
  • Molecular Weight
  • Nanostructures
  • Proton Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
  • Staphylococcal Infections / drug therapy
  • Staphylococcal Infections / microbiology

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Ligands
  • Macromolecular Substances