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Synthesis of Multifunctional Cationic Poly(p-phenylenevinylene) for Selectively Killing Bacteria and
Zhuo Chen1, Huanxiang Yuan1, Haiyan Liang1
1Department of Chemistry, School of Science, Beijing Technology and Business University , Beijing 100048, P. R. China.
Abstract:
In this work, a cationic polymer was synthesized to bear quaternized N-methyl-imidazole groups in the side chains. Positively charged PPV-M could selectively bind to Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria over fungi and exhibit enhanced antibacterial activity with the aid of white light because PPV-M could sensitize oxygen to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) that would damage bacteria. In addition, green fluorescent and positively charged PPV-M has the ability to enter mammalian cells and be specifically accumulated in lysosome. Moreover, PPV-M could stay in live cells for a relatively long time, which implies that PPV-M has the potential to be a long-term imaging agent.
Insights
A novel cationic polymer, PPV-M, selectively targets bacteria and enhances antibacterial activity using white light-activated reactive oxygen species (ROS). PPV-M also shows potential as a long-term cell imaging agent due to its cellular uptake and lysosomal accumulation.
Area of Science:
- Polymer Chemistry
- Antimicrobial Agents
- Cellular Imaging
Background:
- Bacterial infections pose a significant global health threat, necessitating novel antimicrobial strategies.
- Existing antimicrobial agents face challenges like resistance and limited selectivity.
- The development of advanced materials for both therapeutic and diagnostic applications is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize and characterize a cationic polymer, PPV-M, with quaternized N-methyl-imidazole side chains.
- To evaluate the selective antibacterial activity of PPV-M against Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria.
- To investigate the potential of PPV-M as a cell-penetrating and long-term imaging agent.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis of a cationic polymer (PPV-M) featuring quaternized N-methyl-imidazole groups.
- Assessment of selective binding of PPV-M to bacteria versus fungi.
- Evaluation of light-enhanced antibacterial efficacy via reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation.
- Investigation of cellular uptake, lysosomal localization, and long-term retention in mammalian cells.
Main Results:
- PPV-M demonstrated selective binding to both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria, outperforming binding to fungi.
- White light irradiation significantly enhanced PPV-M's antibacterial activity by generating ROS.
- PPV-M exhibited green fluorescence, entered mammalian cells, and accumulated specifically in lysosomes.
- The polymer showed prolonged retention within live cells, indicating stability for imaging applications.
Conclusions:
- The synthesized cationic polymer PPV-M possesses potent, light-enhanced antibacterial properties against a broad spectrum of bacteria.
- PPV-M's ability to generate ROS under white light offers a novel photodynamic antibacterial approach.
- PPV-M's cell-penetrating and lysosomal-targeting characteristics suggest its utility as a viable long-term intracellular imaging agent.
