Controllable hydrogen bonded self-association for the formation of multifunctional antimicrobial materials

J Mater Chem B. 2020 Jun 7;8(21):4694-4700. doi: 10.1039/d0tb00875c. Epub 2020 May 12.

Abstract

SSAs are a class of supramolecular self-associating amphiphilic salt, the anionic component of which contains a covalently bound hydrogen bond donor-acceptor motif. This results in a monomeric unit which can adopt multiple hydrogen bonding modes simultaneously. Previous investigations have shown examples of SSAs to act as antimicrobial agents against clinically relevant methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Herein, we report an intrinsically fluorescent SSA which can self-associate producing dimers, spherical aggregates and hydrogels dependent on solvent environment, while retaining antimicrobial activity against both model Gram-positive (MRSA) and Gram-negative (Escherichia coli) bacteria. Finally, we demonstrate the SSA supramolecular hydrogel to tolerate the inclusion of the antibiotic ampicillin, leading to the enhanced inhibition of growth with both model bacteria, and derive initial molecular structure-physicochemical property-antimicrobial activity relationships.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / chemistry
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology*
  • Escherichia coli / drug effects*
  • Hydrogen Bonding
  • Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / drug effects*
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Molecular Structure
  • Particle Size
  • Surface Properties
  • Surface-Active Agents / chemistry
  • Surface-Active Agents / pharmacology*

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Surface-Active Agents