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Published on: July 2, 2019
An Investigation into Rigidity-Activity Relationships in BisQAC Amphiphilic Antiseptics
Renee C Kontos1, Stephanie A Schallenhammer1, Brian S Bentley1
1Department of Chemistry, Villanova University, Villanova, PA, 19085, USA.
Abstract:
Twenty-one mono- and biscationic quaternary ammonium amphiphiles (monoQACs and bisQACs) were rapidly prepared in order to investigate the effects of rigidity of a diamine core structure on antiseptic activity. As anticipated, the bioactivity against a panel of six bacteria including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains was strong for bisQAC structures, and is clearly correlated with the length of non-polar side chains. Modest advantages were noted for amide-containing side chains, as compared with straight-chained alkyl substituents. Surprisingly, antiseptics with more rigidly disposed side chains, such as those in DABCO-12,12, showed the highest level of antimicrobial activity, with single-digit MIC values or better against the entire bacterial panel, including sub-micromolar activity against an MRSA strain.
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