Destructing biofilms by cationic dextran through phase transition

• Published in: Carbohydrate polymers Vol. 279; p. 118778
• Main Authors: Li, Yurong, Wang, Shaocong, Xing, Zhen, Niu, Yiming, Liao, Zhencheng, Lu, Yang, Qiu, Junni, Zhang, Junfeng, Wang, Chunming, Dong, Lei
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.03.2022
• Subjects: Alginates - chemistry; Animals; Anti-Bacterial Agents - pharmacology; Antibiotic sensitivity; Biofilm; Biofilms - drug effects; Cationic dextran; Cell Line; Cell Survival - drug effects; Cytokines - immunology; Dextrans - chemistry; Dextrans - pharmacology; Female; Hydrogels - chemistry; Hydrogels - pharmacology; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Phase Transition; Polyethyleneimine - chemistry; Pseudomonas aeruginosa - drug effects; Pseudomonas aeruginosa - physiology; Pseudomonas Infections - drug therapy; Pseudomonas Infections - immunology; Skin - drug effects; Skin - immunology; Wound healing; Wound Infection - drug therapy; Wound Infection - immunology; Cationic dextran; Biofilm; Wound healing; Antibiotic sensitivity; Phase transition
• ISSN: 0144-8617; 1879-1344
• DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2021.118778

Eliminating biofilms from infected tissue presents one of the most challenging issues in clinical treatment of chronic wounds. In biofilms, the extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) form gel structures by electrostatic forces between macromolecules. We hypothesized that cationic polymers could induce the gel-to-sol phase transition of the network, leading to biofilms disruptions. We first validated this assumption by using polyethyleneimine (PEI) as a model molecule, and further synthesized two cationic dextrans with high biodegradability for in vitro and in vivo evaluation. All the cationic polymers could destruct Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) biofilms. Treating biofilm with cationic dextrans significantly enhanced the bacterial antibiotic sensitivity. When tested in a biofilm-presenting mouse wound healing model, the cationic dextrans efficiently controlled infection, and accelerated the healing process. Our findings suggest that devising cationic polymers to trigger phase transition of biofilm is an effective, straightforward, and perhaps generic strategy for anti-bacterial therapies.