Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 3, 2026
10:13
Production and Visualization of Bacterial Spheroplasts and Protoplasts to Characterize Antimicrobial Peptide Localization
Published on: August 11, 2018
12.7K
Antimicrobial peptide modification of biomaterials using supramolecular additives
Sabrina Zaccaria1,2, Ronald C van Gaal2,3, Martijn Riool4
1Laboratory for Chemical Biology Eindhoven University of Technology, P.O. Box 513, 5600 MB Eindhoven The Netherlands.
Journal of Polymer Science. Part A, Polymer Chemistry
|October 23, 2018
Summary
This study introduces a novel method for creating antimicrobial biomaterials by combining supramolecular polymers with antimicrobial peptides (AMPs). This approach effectively prevents bacterial colonization on biomedical devices, enhancing their safety and longevity.
Area of Science:
- Polymer Chemistry
- Biomaterials Science
- Antimicrobial Technology
Background:
- Biomaterial-associated infections are a significant cause of biomedical device failure.
- Current strategies involve functionalizing polymers with antimicrobial agents, but new methods are needed.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a modular strategy for creating antimicrobial biomaterials using supramolecular polymers and antimicrobial peptides (AMPs).
- To investigate the stability, biocompatibility, and antimicrobial efficacy of these novel materials.
Main Methods:
- Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) were functionalized with ureido-pyrimidinone (UPy) moieties via an amidic bond.
- UPy-functionalized AMPs were incorporated into UPy-based supramolecular polymers.
- Circular dichroism spectroscopy confirmed the secondary structure of UPy-AMPs.
- Antimicrobial activity was tested against *Escherichia coli* and *Staphylococcus aureus*.
Main Results:
- UPy-functionalization did not alter the secondary structure or solution antimicrobial activity of AMPs.
- The incorporation of UPy-AMPs into UPy-polymers was stable and the resulting material was biocompatible.
- A UPy-polymer material with 4 mol % UPy-AMPs demonstrated protection against *E. coli* and *S. aureus* colonization.
Conclusions:
- A modular approach for creating antimicrobial biomaterials by mixing supramolecular polymers and UPy-functionalized AMPs was successfully developed.
- This method allows for stable yet dynamic incorporation of antimicrobial agents, offering flexibility in material design and AMP selection.
- The developed biomaterials show significant potential for preventing device-associated infections.
Related Concept Videos
02:32Histone Modification
16.1K
The histone proteins have a flexible N-terminal tail extending out from the nucleosome. These histone tails are often subjected to post-translational modifications such as acetylation, methylation, phosphorylation, and ubiquitination. Particular combinations of these modifications form “histone codes” that influence the chromatin folding and tissue-specific gene expression.
Acetylation
The enzyme histone acetyltransferase adds acetyl group to the histones. Another enzyme, histone...
Acetylation
The enzyme histone acetyltransferase adds acetyl group to the histones. Another enzyme, histone...
16.1K
02:32Histone Modification
4.5K
4.5K
02:43Peptide Bonds
83.0K
A peptide bond covalently attaches amino acids through a dehydration reaction. One amino acid's carboxyl group and another amino acid's amino group combine, releasing a water molecule. The resulting bond is the peptide bond. The products that such linkages form are peptides. As more amino acids join this growing chain, the resulting chain is a polypeptide. Each polypeptide has a free amino group at one end. This end has the N-terminal, or the amino-terminal, and the other end has a free...
83.0K
01:27Conjugate Addition (1,4-Addition) vs Direct Addition (1,2-Addition)
4.3K
α,β-Unsaturated carbonyl compounds with two electrophilic sites, the carbonyl carbon, and the β carbon, are susceptible to nucleophilic attack via two modes: conjugate or 1,4-addition and direct or 1,2-addition.
Conjugate addition results in a thermodynamically stable product. The reaction retains the stronger C=O bond at the expense of the weaker C=C π bond. The process is slow as the β carbon is less electrophilic than the carbonyl carbon.
Direct addition products are...
Conjugate addition results in a thermodynamically stable product. The reaction retains the stronger C=O bond at the expense of the weaker C=C π bond. The process is slow as the β carbon is less electrophilic than the carbonyl carbon.
Direct addition products are...
4.3K
02:10Additional Subnuclear Structures
5.4K
The eukaryotic nucleus is a double membrane-bound organelle that contains nearly all of the cell’s genetic material in the form of chromosomes. It is rightly called the “brain” of the cell as it shoulders the responsibility of responding to various physiological processes, stress, altered metabolic conditions, and other cellular signals.
The nucleus contains many membrane-less subnuclear organelles or nuclear bodies, such as nucleoli, Cajal bodies, speckles,...
The nucleus contains many membrane-less subnuclear organelles or nuclear bodies, such as nucleoli, Cajal bodies, speckles,...
5.4K
01:28Antimicrobial Effectiveness
994
The effectiveness of antimicrobial agents depends on various factors influencing their ability to eliminate microbial populations. Larger microbial populations require more time for complete eradication, emphasizing the importance of population size analysis when evaluating antimicrobial efficacy.Microbial resistance to antimicrobial agents varies significantly. Highly resilient microorganisms include endospores, gram-negative bacteria, and non-enveloped viruses, while prions are exceptionally...
994