Membrane Affinity and Antibacterial Properties of Cationic Polyelectrolytes With Different Hydrophobicity

• Published in: Macromolecular bioscience Vol. 12; no. 9; pp. 1181 - 1189
• Main Authors: Kiss, Éva, Heine, Elisabeth T., Hill, Katalin, He, Ying Chun, Keusgen, Nina, Pénzes, Csanád B., Schnöller, Donát, Gyulai, Gergő, Mendrek, Aleksandra, Keul, Helmut, Moeller, Martin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Weinheim WILEY-VCH Verlag 01.09.2012; WILEY‐VCH Verlag; Wiley-VCH
• Subjects: Anti-Bacterial Agents - chemistry; Anti-Bacterial Agents - pharmacology; antimicrobial properties; Applied sciences; Bacillus subtilis - drug effects; Biological properties; Cations; Electrolytes - chemistry; Electrolytes - pharmacology; Escherichia coli - drug effects; Exact sciences and technology; functional polymers; Hemolysis - drug effects; membrane affinity; Membrane Lipids - chemistry; Microscopy, Atomic Force; Organic polymers; Physicochemistry of polymers; poly(ethylene imine)s; polyamphiphiles; Properties and characterization; Spectrometry, Fluorescence; Staphylococcus aureus - drug effects; Surface Tension; Thermodynamics; Biological properties; Substituent effect; Hemolysis; End group; Branched polymer; Membrane interaction; Phospholipid; Artificial membrane; Branched copolymer; Ethylene oxide copolymer; Ethyleneimine copolymer; Experimental study; Bactericidal effect; Quaternary ammonium compound; Polyelectrolyte; Hydrophobic group; Langmuir Blodgett layer; Propylene oxide copolymer; Aqueous solution; Antibacterial agent; Surface activity; Polyethylene imine; Amphiphilic polymer
• ISSN: 1616-5187; 1616-5195
• DOI: 10.1002/mabi.201200078

The antibacterial behavior of cationic polyelectrolytes is studied using model membrane experiments and in vitro bacterial investigations. The molecular interaction with lipid films is evaluated by the degree of penetration of the polymers into Langmuir monolayers of neutral or negatively charged lipids. The polymer/lipid interaction results in structural changes of the penetrated lipid layer visualized using AFM. The polymers are found to be effective in inhibiting the proliferation of E. coli, B. subtilis and S. aureus. The influence of the chemical structure on the functional behavior is related to the conformational properties. An optimum structure is identified on the basis of antibacterial and hemolytic tests as well as membrane‐destroying efficacy of the antimicrobial polymers. The antibacterial behavior of cationic polyelectrolytes is studied. The molecular interaction with lipid films is evaluated by the degree of penetration of the polymers into Langmuir monolayers. The polymers are found to be effective in inhibiting proliferation of E. coli, B. subtilis and S. aureus. An optimum structure is identified on the basis of antibacterial and hemolytic tests.