Host–Guest Antimicrobial Based on Conjugated Oligoelectrolyte and Cyclodextrin

P Pengke Liu (Institute of Polymer Optoelectronic Materials and Devices Guangdong Basic Research Center of Excellence for Energy & Information Polymer Materials State Key Laboratory of Luminescent Materials and Devices School of Materials Science and Engineering South China University of Technology Guangzhou 510640 P.R. China) Y Yuhui Chen (State Key Laboratory of Silicon and Advanced Semiconductor Materials and Center of Electron Microscopy, School of Materials Science and Engineering) D Donghao Yao (Institute of Polymer Optoelectronic Materials and Devices Guangdong Basic Research Center of Excellence for Energy & Information Polymer Materials State Key Laboratory of Luminescent Materials and Devices School of Materials Science and Engineering South China University of Technology Guangzhou 510640 P.R. China) J Jishan Jia (Division of Orthopedics and Traumatology Department of Orthopaedics Nanfang Hospital Southern Medical University Guangzhou 510515 P.R. China) Y Yingying Meng P Peirong Zhou (Institute of Polymer Optoelectronic Materials and Devices Guangdong Basic Research Center of Excellence for Energy & Information Polymer Materials State Key Laboratory of Luminescent Materials and Devices School of Materials Science and Engineering South China University of Technology Guangzhou 510640 P.R. China) X Xianan Gao (Institute of Polymer Optoelectronic Materials and Devices Guangdong Basic Research Center of Excellence for Energy & Information Polymer Materials State Key Laboratory of Luminescent Materials and Devices School of Materials Science and Engineering South China University of Technology Guangzhou 510640 P.R. China) Y Yixin Xie (Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry) L Liang Yao (State Key Laboratory of Luminescent Materials and Devices, Institute of Polymer Optoelectronic Materials and Devices, Guangdong Basic Research Center of Excellence for Energy and Information Polymer Materials) S Shufen Li (State Key Laboratory of Virology and Biosafety, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences) L Lei Wang G Guillermo C. Bazan S Shaoyong Xu (Division of Orthopedics and Traumatology Department of Orthopaedics Nanfang Hospital Southern Medical University Guangzhou 510515 P.R. China) C Cheng Zhou (Department of Anesthesiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University)

Abstract

Abstract The escalating global threat of antimicrobial resistance necessitates the development of new antimicrobial agents. In this study, we prepared a resveratrol‐derived antimicrobial conjugated oligoelectrolyte (COE) named DY6 to enhance drug‐like properties. While DY6 ’s increased hydrophobicity augmented its antibacterial efficacy, it also induced significant cytotoxicity, highlighting the long‐existing dilemma of amphiphilic antimicrobials. To mitigate this issue, we employed a supramolecular strategy by complexing DY6 with sodium sulfobutyl ether β‐cyclodextrin ( SβCD ), forming the host–guest inclusion complex DY6@SβCD . This complex elevated the half‐maximal inhibitory concentration (IC 50 ) against L929 cells from 9.4 to over 128 µg mL −1 while maintaining a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 2 µg mL −1 against methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). NMR and UV–vis spectroscopic analyses confirmed that DY6 ’s aromatic backbone is encapsulated within the hydrophobic cavity of SβCD . Isothermal titration calorimetry revealed that size compatibility and electrostatic interactions are essential for stable complex formation and enhanced biocompatibility. Importantly, DY6@SβCD exhibited no resistance development over 14‐day serial passages against S. aureus , significantly outperforming norfloxacin. In biofilm‐based MRSA‐infected wound and corneal models, DY6@SβCD more effectively reduced bacterial load and inflammation compared to the last‐resort antibiotic vancomycin. These findings demonstrate the potential utility of supramolecular host–guest approach based on COEs to overcome the drug‐resistant challenges.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 64, Issue 30
Published July 21, 2025
ISSN 1433-7851
Publisher Wiley

Journal Info

Angewandte Chemie International Edition

Wiley

ISSN: 1433-7851 Physical Sciences

Authors (14)

P

Pengke Liu

Institute of Polymer Optoelectronic Materials and Devices Guangdong Basic Research Center of Excellence for Energy & Information Polymer Materials State Key Laboratory of Luminescent Materials and Devices School of Materials Science and Engineering South China University of Technology Guangzhou 510640 P.R. China

Y

Yuhui Chen

State Key Laboratory of Silicon and Advanced Semiconductor Materials and Center of Electron Microscopy, School of Materials Science and Engineering

D

Donghao Yao

Institute of Polymer Optoelectronic Materials and Devices Guangdong Basic Research Center of Excellence for Energy & Information Polymer Materials State Key Laboratory of Luminescent Materials and Devices School of Materials Science and Engineering South China University of Technology Guangzhou 510640 P.R. China

J

Jishan Jia

Division of Orthopedics and Traumatology Department of Orthopaedics Nanfang Hospital Southern Medical University Guangzhou 510515 P.R. China

Y

Yingying Meng

P

Peirong Zhou

Institute of Polymer Optoelectronic Materials and Devices Guangdong Basic Research Center of Excellence for Energy & Information Polymer Materials State Key Laboratory of Luminescent Materials and Devices School of Materials Science and Engineering South China University of Technology Guangzhou 510640 P.R. China

X

Xianan Gao

Institute of Polymer Optoelectronic Materials and Devices Guangdong Basic Research Center of Excellence for Energy & Information Polymer Materials State Key Laboratory of Luminescent Materials and Devices School of Materials Science and Engineering South China University of Technology Guangzhou 510640 P.R. China

Y

Yixin Xie

Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry

L

Liang Yao

State Key Laboratory of Luminescent Materials and Devices, Institute of Polymer Optoelectronic Materials and Devices, Guangdong Basic Research Center of Excellence for Energy and Information Polymer Materials

S

Shufen Li

State Key Laboratory of Virology and Biosafety, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences

L

Lei Wang

G

Guillermo C. Bazan

S

Shaoyong Xu

Division of Orthopedics and Traumatology Department of Orthopaedics Nanfang Hospital Southern Medical University Guangzhou 510515 P.R. China

C

Cheng Zhou

Department of Anesthesiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University