Non‐Amphiphilic Antimicrobial Polymers
Abstract
Abstract Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a severe threat to modern healthcare and must be addressed to prevent millions of deaths in the coming decades. Antimicrobial polymers (APs) do not provoke resistance and are promising alternatives to conventional antibiotics. Classic APs possess an amphiphilic structure (cationic and hydrophobic). Herein, we question the necessity of amphiphilicity in APs and find that hydrophobicity is not an essential quality in these polymers. Combining cationic monomers with hydrophilic subunits containing hydrogen bond donors results in excellent antibacterial activity and concurrently low unspecific toxicity. Non‐amphiphilic APs have the unique ability to cluster in isolated membrane regions, creating a supramolecular multivalence that enhances their membrane activity and aggregates bacterial cells. This effect, which only unfolds in the absence of hydrophobicity, opens new possibilities in the design of antimicrobial materials.
Article Details
Authors (16)
Alain M. Bapolisi
Institute of Chemistry University of Potsdam Karl‐Liebknecht‐Straße 24–25 14476 Potsdam Germany
Anne‐Catherine Lehnen
Institute of Chemistry University of Potsdam Karl‐Liebknecht‐Straße 24–25 14476 Potsdam Germany
Martin Wolff
Institute of Physical Biochemistry University of Potsdam Karl‐Liebknecht‐Straße 24–25 14476 Potsdam Germany
Jana Kramer
Institute of Physical Biochemistry University of Potsdam Karl‐Liebknecht‐Straße 24–25 14476 Potsdam Germany
Sergio Kogikoski
Institute of Chemistry University of Potsdam Karl‐Liebknecht‐Straße 24–25 14476 Potsdam Germany
René Steinbrecher
Institute of Chemistry University of Potsdam Karl‐Liebknecht‐Straße 24–25 14476 Potsdam Germany
Nicole Michler
Fraunhofer‐Institut für Mikrostruktur von Werkstoffen und Systemen IMWS Walter‐Hülse‐Str. 1 06120 Halle (Saale) Germany
Andreas Kiesow
Fraunhofer‐Institut für Mikrostruktur von Werkstoffen und Systemen IMWS Walter‐Hülse‐Str. 1 06120 Halle (Saale) Germany
Ilko Bald
Institute of Chemistry University of Potsdam Karl‐Liebknecht‐Straße 24–25 14476 Potsdam Germany
Martina Obry
Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology Branch Bioanalytics and Bioprocesses (IZI‐BB) Am Mühlenberg 13 14476 Potsdam Germany
Sebastian Kersting
Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology Branch Bioanalytics and Bioprocesses (IZI‐BB) Am Mühlenberg 13 14476 Potsdam Germany
Till Stensitzki
Henrike M. Müller‐Werkmeister
Institute of Chemistry University of Potsdam Karl‐Liebknecht‐Straße 24–25 14476 Potsdam Germany
Meike N. Leiske
Faculty of Biology Chemistry & Earth Sciences University of Bayreuth Universitätsstraße 30 95447 Bayreuth Germany
Salvatore Chiantia
Institute of Physical Biochemistry University of Potsdam Karl‐Liebknecht‐Straße 24–25 14476 Potsdam Germany
Matthias Hartlieb
Institute of Chemistry University of Potsdam Karl‐Liebknecht‐Straße 24–25 14476 Potsdam Germany