Sodium polyanethol sulfonate inactivation of aminoglycosides

Sodium polyanethol sulfonate and another polyanion (dextran sulfate) both inhibited aminoglycoside activity in vitro. This effect was not produced by an otherwise similar neutral carbohydrate (dextran) or by neutral detergents (Brij-35, Triton X-100) but was antagonized by an anion-exchange resin (Dowex 1X8-50). We conclude that the inactivation of aminoglycosides by sodium polyanethol sulfonate results from its polyanionic nature and is unrelated to its detergent properties.