Core–shell polycationic polyurea pharmadendrimers: new-generation of sustainable broad-spectrum antibiotics and antifungals
Source abstract
Abstract
The efficacy of conventional antimicrobials is falling to critical levels and raising alarming concerns around the globe. In this scenery, engineered nanoparticles emerged as a solid strategy to fight growing deadly infections. Here, we show the in vitro and in vivo performance of pharmadendrimers, a novel class of engineered polyurea dendrimers that are synthetic mimics of antibacterial peptides, against a collection of both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and fungi. These nanobiomaterials are stable solids prepared by low-cost and green processes, display a dense positively charged core-shell, and are biocompatible and hemocompatible drugs. Mechanistic data, corroborated by coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations, points towards a fast-killing mechanism via membrane disruption, triggered by electrostatic interactions. Altogether this study provides strong evidence and support for the future use of polyurea pharmadendrimers in antibacterial and antifungal nanotherapeutics.
Source: europepmc · Quality: candidate unverified · Source record ↗
Research context
OpenAlex topics: Antimicrobial agents and applications · Antimicrobial Peptides and Activities · Synthetic Organic Chemistry Methods
SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.
Affiliations
iBB-Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences and i4HB-Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, Instituto Superior Técnico, Av. Rovisco Pais, 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal
Centro de Química Estrutural (CQE), Institute of Molecular Sciences, Instituto Superior Técnico (IST), Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Rovisco Pais, 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal
Instituto de Tecnologia Química Biológica António Xavier, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Av. da República, 2780-157 Oeiras, Portugal
Bioengineering Department, Instituto Superior Técnico, Av. Rovisco Pais, 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal
Funding
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia · Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences · Centro de Química Estrutural · Instituto Superior Técnico · Universidade de Lisboa
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