Bacteria-mediated in situ polymerization of peptide-modified acrylamide for enhancing antimicrobial activity

Bacteria-mediated reactions can utilize the natural activities of bacteria to produce bioactive products. Here, bacteria-mediated polymerization of the acrylamide-functionalized peptide Trp-Arg-Lys (Am-WRK) afforded an antibacterial polymer, PAm-WRK, which simulates the cationic and hydrophobic structures of antimicrobial peptides. Facultative anaerobes with strong reductive abilities exhibited better reactivity and achieved selective antibacterial effects through non-covalent interactions with bacterial membranes. This bacteria-mediated synthesis of AMP-mimic polymers provides a new strategy for overcoming bacterial resistance and for the in situ generation of bioactive functional materials.