Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 13, 2026

In Vivo Investigation of Antimicrobial Blue Light Therapy for Multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii Burn Infections Using Bioluminescence Imaging
09:29

In Vivo Investigation of Antimicrobial Blue Light Therapy for Multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii Burn Infections Using Bioluminescence Imaging

Published on: April 28, 2017

9.9K

A macromolecular approach to eradicate multidrug resistant bacterial infections while mitigating drug resistance

Willy Chin1,2, Guansheng Zhong3, Qinqin Pu4

  • 1Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, 31 Biopolis Way, Singapore, 138669, Singapore.

Nature Communications
|March 4, 2018
PubMed

Insights

New biodegradable polymers offer a potent solution against multidrug-resistant infections. These novel macromolecules demonstrate broad-spectrum efficacy without inducing bacterial resistance, unlike traditional antibiotics.

Area of Science:

  • Polymer Chemistry
  • Antimicrobial Research
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Polymyxins are critical last-resort treatments for multidrug-resistant (MDR) infections.
  • Emerging resistance to polymyxins necessitates the development of novel antimicrobial strategies.
  • Existing antibiotics face challenges with resistance development, limiting their long-term effectiveness.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop and evaluate biodegradable guanidinium-functionalized polycarbonates as novel antimicrobial agents.
  • To investigate the mechanism of action and resistance profile of these synthetic macromolecules.
  • To assess the in vivo efficacy and safety of these compounds against MDR bacterial infections.

Main Methods:

  • Synthesis of biodegradable guanidinium-functionalized polycarbonates.
  • Assessment of bacterial resistance development through repeated treatments and transcriptomic analysis.
  • In vivo efficacy testing in multiple mouse models of MDR bacterial infections (A. baumannii, E. coli, K. pneumoniae, MRSA, P. aeruginosa) and polymicrobial peritonitis.
  • Toxicology assessment to determine therapeutic index.

Main Results:

  • The synthesized polycarbonates exhibit a unique mechanism of action that does not induce bacterial resistance, even after repeated exposure.
  • Transcriptomic analysis confirmed resistance development to conventional antibiotics but not to the macromolecules.
  • Significant in vivo efficacy was demonstrated across various MDR bacterial infections and polymicrobial peritonitis models.
  • The compounds exhibited a high therapeutic index, indicating a favorable safety profile (e.g., therapeutic index of 1473 for A. baumannii infection).

Conclusions:

  • Biodegradable guanidinium-functionalized polycarbonates represent a promising new class of antimicrobial agents.
  • These macromolecules offer broad-spectrum activity against MDR infections with a low propensity for resistance development.
  • Their favorable efficacy and safety profile make them strong candidates for systemic treatment of challenging bacterial infections.

More Related Videos

The MODS method for diagnosis of tuberculosis and multidrug resistant tuberculosis23:06

The MODS method for diagnosis of tuberculosis and multidrug resistant tuberculosis

Published on: August 11, 2008

19.7K
Nanomechanics of Drug-target Interactions and Antibacterial Resistance Detection11:56

Nanomechanics of Drug-target Interactions and Antibacterial Resistance Detection

Published on: October 25, 2013

14.7K

Related Concept Videos

Resistivity01:22

Resistivity

When a voltage is applied to a conductor, an electrical field is generated, and charges in the conductor feel the force due to the electrical field. The current density that results depends on the electrical field and the properties of the material. In some materials, including metals at a given temperature, the current density is approximately proportional to the electrical field. In these cases, the current density can be modeled as:
4.6K
Resistance01:19

Resistance

When a current moves through any conductor, the conductor causes some level of difficulty for the current to flow. The measure of that difficulty is known as the resistance of the material and is represented by R. Every material has its own resistance. In the case of conductors, heat is emitted whenever a current passes through them. Resistance depends on the resistivity of the material. Resistivity is a characteristic of the material used to fabricate electrical components, whereas the...
6.1K
Equivalent Resistance01:16

Equivalent Resistance

In circuit analysis, situations often arise where resistors are neither in series nor parallel configurations. To tackle such scenarios, three-terminal equivalent networks like the wye (Y) (Figure 1 (a)) or tee (T) and delta (Δ) (Figure 1 (b)) or pi (π) networks come into play. These networks offer versatile solutions and are frequently encountered in various applications, including three-phase electrical systems, electrical filters, and matching networks.
1.0K
Resistance and Conductance01:25

Resistance and Conductance

A conductor's DC resistance at a given temperature is influenced by its resistivity, length, and cross-sectional area. Resistivity is an inherent property of the conductor material, with annealed copper serving as the international standard for measurement. For instance, the resistivity of hard-drawn aluminum at 20 degrees Celsius is 61% of the standard conductivity of annealed copper.
Various factors impact the resistance of a conductor. Spiraling in stranded conductors increases their...
531
Rolling Resistance01:21

Rolling Resistance

When a solid cylinder rolls steadily on a rigid surface, the normal force applied by the surface on the cylinder is perpendicular to the tangent at the contact point. However, since no materials are entirely rigid, the surface's reaction to the cylinder involves a range of normal pressures.
For instance, imagine a hard cylinder rolling on a comparatively soft surface. The cylinder's weight compresses the surface beneath it. As the cylinder moves, the material in front of it slows down due to...
680
Vascular Resistance01:20

Vascular Resistance

Vascular resistance is a critical concept in understanding blood flow dynamics in the circulatory system. It refers to the resistance that blood encounters as it flows through the blood vessels. This resistance is a key factor in determining blood pressure and cardiac workload.
The primary determinants of vascular resistance are vessel diameter, blood viscosity, and vessel length. Among these, vessel diameter plays the most significant role due to the fourth power relationship described by...
11.3K