Nanoceria-Based Phospholipase-Mimetic Cell Membrane Disruptive Antibiofilm Agents

Continuous mounting of antibiotic resistance due to the narrow range of mechanisms targeted poses tremendous threat to global health. Highly resistant pathogenic bacteria dwelling in the biofilm mode on the surface of medical devices has increased the susceptibility of chronic as well as healthcare-associated infections. Lantipeptides have shown promising membrane disruption of Gram-positive bacteria, leading to programmed cell death, but they are impermeable and hence ineffective to the outer cell membrane of Gram-negative bacteria. Herein, we report for the first time that a polymer-coated nanoceria (PAA-Cnp) having phospholipase-mimetic activity can target the cell membrane of both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. The nanozyme shows promising membrane disruption-based bactericidal activity against a broad spectrum of pathogenic as well as biofilm-encased bacteria. The unprecedented nanozyme-based strategy described in this paper is useful in preventing biofilm formation on medical devices such as urinary catheters.