Soft antimicrobial agents: synthesis and activity of labile environmentally friendly long chain quaternary ammonium compounds

Cleavable cationic antibacterial amphiphiles: synthesis, mechanism of action, and cytotoxicities

The development of novel antimicrobial agents having high selectivity toward bacterial cells over mammalian cells is urgently required to curb the widespread emergence of infectious diseases caused by pathogenic bacteria. Toward this end, we have developed a set of cationic dimeric amphiphiles (bearing cleavable amide linkages between the headgroup and the hydrocarbon tail with different methylene spacers) that showed high antibacterial activity against human pathogenic bacteria (Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus) and low cytotoxicity. The Minimum Inhibitory Concentrations (MIC) were found to be very low for the dimeric amphiphiles and were lower or comparable to the monomeric counterpart. In the case of dimeric amphiphiles, MIC was found to decrease with the increase in the spacer chain length (n = 2 to 6) and again to increase at higher spacer length (n > 6). It was found that the compound with six methylene spacers was the most active among all of the amphiphiles (MICs = 10-13 μM). By fluorescence spectroscopy, fluorescence microscopy, and field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), it was revealed that these cationic amphiphiles interact with the negatively charged bacterial cell membrane and disrupt the membrane integrity, thus killing the bacteria. All of the cationic amphiphiles showed low hemolytic activity (HC(50)) and high selectivity against both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. The most active amphiphile (n = 6) had a 10-13-fold higher HC(50) than did the MIC. Also, this amphiphile did not show any cytotoxicity against mammalian cells (HeLa cells) even at a concentration above the MIC (20 μM). The critical micellar concentration (CMC) values of gemini surfactants were found to be very low (CMC = 0.30-0.11 mM) and were 10-27 times smaller than the corresponding monomeric analogue (CMC = 2.9 mM). Chemical hydrolysis and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) proved that these amphiphiles are quite stable under both acidic and thermal conditions. Collectively, these properties make the newly synthesized amphiphiles potentially superior disinfectants and antiseptics for various biomedical and biotechnological applications.

Library synthesis and antibacterial investigation of cationic anthraquinone analogs

We report the parallel synthesis of a series of novel 4,9-dioxo-4,9-dihydro-1H-naphtho[2,3-d][1,2,3]triazol-3-ium chloride salts, which are analogs to cationic anthraquinones. Three synthetic protocols were examined leading to a convenient and facile library synthesis of the cationic anthraquinone analogs that contain double alkyl chains of various lengths (C(2)-C(12)) at N-1 and N-3 positions. The antibacterial activities of these compounds were evaluated against Gram-positive bacterium Staphylococcus aureus and Gram-negative bacterium Escherichia coli. The antibacterial activities of these compounds were expected to be associated with the structural features of naphthoquinone, cation and lypophilic alkyl chain and, interestingly, they showed much higher levels of antibacterial activities against G+ than G- bacteria. In addition, when the total number of carbon atoms of the alkyl groups at both N-1 and N-3 positions lies between 9 and 18, the bactericidal activity against S. aureus increased with increasing alkyl chain length at both N-atoms with MIC ≤ 1 μg/mL.

The antimicrobial activity, hydrophobicity and toxicity of tri(n-alkyl)sulfoniums and tris(n-alkylphenyl) sulfoniums, and their relationships

The antimicrobial activity, hydrophobicity and toxicity of tri(n-alkyl)sulfoniums (TASs) and tris{4-(n-alkylphenyl)}sulfoniums (TAPSs), and their relationships were investigated. The antimicrobial activity against the tested strains tended to increase with the increase in the sulfonium ClogP between 7 and approximately 12 and beyond that decreased with the increase in the ClogP in both sulfoniums. The antimicrobial activities of the most TAPSs were higher than those of the TASs at similar ClogP values. The mutagenicity of the TASs and the TAPSs was judged to be negative. The acute oral toxicity decreased with the increase in the ClogP in the both sulfoniums. The skin irritation/corrosion increased with the increase in the ClogP between approximately 7 and 12, and beyond that decreased or similar with the increase in the ClogP in both sulfoniums. It is noted that the acute toxicity and the skin irritation/corrosion of the TAPSs were clearly higher than those of the TASs at a similar ClogP. In comparing the sulfoniums to representative quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs), the antimicrobial activities of the some sulfoniums were higher than those of QACs and the toxicity was lower. Therefore, some sulfoniums could be utilized in many fields instead of the presently and widely-used QACs.

Mutagenicity of quaternary ammonium salts containing carbohydrate moieties

Quaternary ammonium salts are widely used in industrial, agricultural, healthcare and domestic applications. They are believed to be safe compounds, with little or no health hazard to humans. However, in this report, we demonstrate that a series of newly synthesized quaternary ammonium salts containing carbohydrate moieties reveal potent mutagenic activities, as assessed by using the Vibrio harveyi bioluminescence mutagenicity test. D-Gluco- and D-galacto-derivatives were found to have a higher mutagenic potential than D-manno-derivatives. Among the former groups of compounds, the N-[2-(D-glycopyranosyloxy)ethyl]-N,N,N-trimethylaminium salts were of the highest activity in the mutagenicity assay. These results suggest that the safety of quaternary ammonium salts may be lower than previously supposed, indicating a need for testing such compounds for their mutagenicity.

Antibacterial activity of conjugated polyelectrolytes with variable chain lengths

Cationic poly(phenylene ethynylene)- (PPE-) based conjugated polyelectrolytes (CPEs) with six different chain lengths ranging in degree of polymerization from ∼7 to ∼49 were synthesized from organic-soluble precursor polymers. The molecular weight of the precursor polymers was controlled by the amount of a monofunctional "end-capping" agent added to the polymerization reaction. Cationic CPEs were prepared by quaternization of amine groups to tetraalkylammonium groups. Their structure-property relationships were investigated by observing their photophysical properties and antibacterial activity. The polymers were found to exhibit a chain-length dependence in their photophysical properties. It has also been observed that the polymers exhibit effective antibacterial activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria under UV irradiation, whereas they show little antibacterial activity in the dark. An effect of chain length on the light-activated antibacterial activity was also found: The shortest polymer (n=7) exhibited the most effective antibacterial activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria.

Mode of action investigation for the antibacterial cationic anthraquinone analogs

Reported previously by our group, we have developed a novel class of antibacterial cationic anthraquinone analogs with superb potency (MIC <1μg/mL) against Gram positive (G+) pathogens including Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). However, most of these compounds only manifest modest antibacterial activity against Gram negative (G-) bacteria. Further investigation on the antibacterial mode of action using fluorogenic dyes reveals that these compounds exert two different modes of action that account for the difference in their antibacterial profile. It was found that most of the compounds exert their antibacterial activity by disrupting the redox processes of bacteria. At high concentration, these compounds can also act as membrane disrupting agents. This information can help to design new therapeutics against various bacteria.

Rapid evaluation of the antibacterial activity of arylene-ethynylene compounds

A series of oligo(arylene-ethynylene) (1-3 repeat units) compounds functionalized with quaternary ammonium groups was screened for their antibacterial activity in the dark and with activation by long-wavelength (365 nm) UV irradiation. Several of these compounds have effective bactericidal activity (>99.9% killing) at concentrations between 0.01 and 10 μg/mL. Our approach uses flow cytometry to rapidly screen and evaluate the susceptibility of bacterial populations. The rapidity, high information content, and accuracy of this approach make it an extremely valuable method for the study of antibacterial compounds.

The antimicrobial activity, hydrophobicity and toxicity of sulfonium compounds, and their relationship

The sulfonium compound is a kind of cationic surfactant as well as a quaternary ammonium which has been used widely around the globe. This study investigated the antimicrobial activity, the hydrophobicity, the toxicity of several sulfoniums and their relationship with the aim of clarifying their antimicrobial activity and toxicity, and, furthermore, of predicting their usefulness availability as antimicrobials. As a result, the antimicrobial activity, expressed as the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the sulfoniums examined in this study, tended to decrease with the increase of their hydrophobicity, estimated by ClogP, and their antimicrobial activity against the gram-positive bacteria was higher than that against the gram-negative bacteria used in this study. The antimicrobial activities of several sulfoniums against the gram-positive bacteria were higher than those of some common cationic antimicrobials including quaternary ammoniums such as cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC) and benzalkonium chloride (BKC). In contrast, the antimicrobial activities of the sulfoniums against the gram-negative bacteria were lower than those of some common cationic antimicrobials. Meanwhile the toxicity, in particular, the acute dermal irritation/corrosion of the sulfoniums, tended to be lower than that of common cationic antimicrobials which were toxic in many cases indices. These results suggest that the sulfoniums might become useful antimicrobials which are less hazardous to human health than common cationic antimicrobials.

Light-induced antibacterial activity of symmetrical and asymmetrical oligophenylene ethynylenes

The light-induced antibacterial activity of symmetric and asymmetric oligophenylene ethynylenes (OPEs) was investigated against Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis) and Gram-negative (Escherichia coli) bacteria. To understand the light-induced biocidal effect better, the transient absorption and triplet lifetime of OPEs were studied in methanol and water. A higher triplet lifetime was observed for OPE samples in water than in methanol. The magnitudes of the changes in optical density (ΔOD) of the S-OPE-n(H) series of symmetric oligomers are much higher than that of the asymmetric OPE-n series in water and are generally correlated with the singlet oxygen yield. It was found that the antibacterial activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria is size-, concentration-, and time-dependent. The light-induced antibacterial activity may result from the coordinated interactions of membrane disruption and interfacial or intracellular singlet oxygen generation, and the dominant factor is most likely the latter. The results obtained in this study will aid in the design of more efficient biocides in the future.

Antimicrobial activity of [2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyl]trimethylammonium chloride against Candida spp

BACKGROUND

Candida-associated denture stomatitis is the most common manifestation of oral candidal infection, caused mainly by Candida albicans. Several authors have attempted to add antifungal agents or antiseptics to denture temporary soft lining materials or to denture acrylic resins, without relevant results. Therefore, the investigation of a quaternary ammonium functionalized compound [2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyl]trimethylammonium chloride (MADQUAT), which copolymerizes with methacrylates and which could act as a fungal inhibitor, is of paramount importance.

AIMS

To evaluate the in vitro activity of MADQUAT against Candida species.

METHODS

Thirty-one Candida strains were used to determine the in vitro antifungal activity of this compound. The minimum inhibitory concentrations and minimum fungicidal concentrations of MADQUAT and nystatin were determined.

RESULTS

MADQUAT showed antifungal properties at concentrations of 6.25 to > 100mg/ml, and fungicidal activity between 25 and > 100mg/ml. The quantitative determinations of the fungistatic and fungicidal activity of MADQUAT showed fungistatic activity against all Candida albicans, Candida krusei and Candida parapsilosis strains, revealing fungicidal activity against some strains of the other species.

CONCLUSIONS

MADQUAT has antifungal activity against Candida spp. Moreover, the sensitivity to this substance varies across the different species in terms of MIC values and fungicidal or fungistatic activity.

Cationic surfactants derived from lysine: effects of their structure and charge type on antimicrobial and hemolytic activities

Three different sets of cationic surfactants from lysine have been synthesized. The first group consists of three monocatenary surfactants with one lysine as the cationic polar head with one cationic charge. The second consists of three monocatenary surfactants with two amino acids as cationic polar head with two positive charges. Finally, four gemini surfactants were synthesized in which the spacer chain and the number and type of cationic charges have been regulated. The micellization process, antimicrobial activity, and hemolytic activity were evaluated. The critical micelle concentration was dependent only on the hydrophobic character of the molecules. Nevertheless, the antimicrobial and hemolytic activities were related to the structure of the compounds as well as the type of cationic charges. The most active surfactants against the bacteria were those with a cationic charge on the trimethylated amino group, whereas all of these surfactants showed low hemolytic character.

The physiological and morphological phenotype of a yeast mutant resistant to the quaternary ammonium salt N-(dodecyloxycarboxymethyl)-N,N,N-trimethyl ammonium chloride

We investigated the action of the quaternary ammonium salt (QAS) called IM (N-(dodecyloxycarboxymethyl)-N,N,N-trimethyl ammonium chloride) on Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast cells. Changes in the yeast cell ultrastructure were confirmed by electron microscopy. We treated resistant mutant cells with QAS, and confirmed destruction of the mutant cytoplasm, an increase in the thickness of the cell wall, separation of the cell wall from the cytoplasm, and the accumulation of numerous lipid droplets. We also observed a relatively high production of lipids in the cells of the parental wild-type strain Sigma1278b and in its IM-resistant (IM(R)) mutant in the presence of the QAS. The IM(R) mutant showed increased sensitivity to CaCl(2) and SDS, and resistance to ethidium bromide, chloramphenicol, erythromycin and osmotic shock. It also tolerated growth at low pH. We suggest that the resistance to IM could be connected with the level of permeability of the cell membrane because the IM(R) mutant was sensitive to this compound in vivo in the presence of SDS and guanidine hydrochloride, which cause increased permeability of the cell plasma membrane.

Surfactants in the Environment

Surfactants are a diverse group of chemicals that are best known for their wide use in detergents and other cleaning products. After use, residual surfactants are discharged into sewage systems or directly into surface waters, and most of them end up dispersed in different environmental compartments such as soil, water or sediment. The toxic effects of surfactants on various aquatic organisms are well known. In general, surfactants are present in the environment at levels below toxicity and in Croatia below the national limit. Most surfactants are readily biodegradable and their amount is greatly reduced with secondary treatment in wastewater treatment plants. The highest concern is the release of untreated wastewater or wastewater that has undergone primary treatment alone. The discharge of wastewater polluted with massive quantities of surfactants could have serious effects on the ecosystem. Future studies of surfactant toxicities and biodegradation are necessary to withdraw highly toxic and non-biodegradable compounds from commercial use and replace them with more environmentally friendly ones.

Hydrolysis kinetics and QSAR investigation of soft antimicrobial agents

Quaternary ammonium surfactants, such as benzalkonium chloride and cetylpyridinium chloride, are commonly used as antibacterial agents for disinfectants and for general environmental sanitation, as well as in surfactants, penetration enhancers and preservatives in pharmaceutical and cosmetic formulations. However, these agents are known to cause various side-effects and toxic reactions that are believed to be associated with their chemical stability. Soft analogues of the long-chain quaternary ammonium compounds were synthesized according to the soft drug approach and their physicochemical properties investigated, such as their hydrolytic rate constant, surface activity and lipophilicity. Structure-activity studies showed that the antimicrobial activity of the compounds was strongly influenced by their lipophilicity and chemical stability, the activity increasing with increasing lipophilicity and stability. However, in soft drug design structure-activity relationships are combined with structure-inactivation relationships during the lead optimization. The safety index (SI) of compounds was defined as the hydrolytic rate constant divided by the minimum inhibitory concentration. The SI of the soft antibacterial agents was found to increase with increasing lipophilicity but optimum SI was obtained when their hydrolytic t1/2, at pH 6 and 60°C, was about 11 h. Optimization of the soft antibacterial agents through SI optimization resulted in potent but chemically unstable quaternary ammonium antibacterial agents.

Insight into the mechanism of antimicrobial poly(phenylene ethynylene) polyelectrolytes: interactions with phosphatidylglycerol lipid membranes

The interactions of antimicrobial poly(phenylene ethynylene) (PPE)-based cationic conjugated polyelectrolytes (CPEs) with lipid membranes were investigated to gain insight into the mechanism of their biocidal activity. Three model membrane systems comprising negatively charged phosphatidylglycerol (PG) lipids were used to mimic the bacterial cell membrane, including unilamellar lipid vesicles in aqueous solution, lipid bilayer coated silica microspheres, and lipid monolayers at the air-water interface. Two PPE CPEs, one containing a thiophene moiety on the PPE repeat unit and the second containing a diazabicyclooctane (DABCO) moiety on the pendant side chain, were chosen, since the former exhibits distinct dark biocidal activity and the latter shows strong light-activated antimicrobial activity but little dark biocidal activity. The interactions of these two PPE polymers with lipid membranes were characterized in detail by CPE fluorescence spectral changes, fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET), fluorescence quenching, monolayer insertion, and dynamic light scattering assays. Both PPE polymers exhibit affinity for the anionic lipid membrane systems. Their concomitant association and insertion into the membrane leads to conformational changes of the PPE polymer from an aggregated state to a more extended state, as evidenced by the polymer's enhanced fluorescence and FRET between the polymer and rhodamine incorporated in the lipid membrane. In comparison, the thiophene polymer exhibits stronger interactions with PG lipid membranes than the DABCO-containing polymer. The former induces a larger fluorescence enhancement, shows faster transfer across the lipid membrane, and inserts more readily and to a higher extent into lipid monolayers. The observed differences between the two PPE polymers in their interactions with the lipid membrane may stem from their structural differences, as the DABCO-containing polymer has a much bulkier and larger pendant group on its side chain. The higher degree of membrane interaction and insertion, and subsequent membrane disorganization, of the thiophene polymer may account for its dark biocidal activity.

Synthesis and antimicrobial activity of some pyridinium salts

Some substituted benzylidenehydrazinylpyridinium derivatives bearing benzyl, ethylphenyl and propylphenyl groups on the pyridinium nitrogen were synthesized and screened for possible antibacterial and antifungal activities against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Candida albicans using the microdilution method. Antimicrobial test results indicated that compounds containing a 3-phenylpropyl chain displayed the highest antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and the compound 3d was the most active in the series against all tested bacteria and fungi strains.

Light and dark biocidal activity of cationic poly(arylene ethynylene) conjugated polyelectrolytes

In this paper we report a study of cationic poly(arylene ethynylene) conjugated polyelectrolytes. The objective of the study was to compare the behavior of a polymer where a thiophene has replaced a phenyl ring in poly(phenylene ethynylene) polycations (PPE) previously investigated. Properties of solution phase and physisorbed suspensions of the polymer on microspheres were investigated. The photophysical properties of the polymer are evaluated and used to understand the striking differences in biocidal activity compared to the PPE polymers previously examined. The principal findings are that the thiophene polymer has remarkable dark biocidal activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain PAO1 but very little light-activated activity. The low light-activated biocidal activity of the thiophene polymer is attributed to a highly aggregated state of the polymer in aqueous solutions and on microspheres as a physisorbed coating. This results in low triplet yields and a very poor sensitization of singlet oxygen and other reactive oxygen intermediates. The highly effective dark biocidal activity of the thiophene-containing polymers is attributed to its high lipophilicity and the presence of accessible quaternary ammonium groups. The difference in behavior among the polymers compared provides insights into the mechanism of the dark process and indicates that aggregation of polymer can reduce light activated biocidal activity by suppressing singlet oxygen generation.

Light-induced biocidal action of conjugated polyelectrolytes supported on colloids

A series of water soluble, cationic conjugated polyelectrolytes (CPEs) with backbones based on a poly(phenylene ethynylene) repeat unit structure and tetraakylammonium side groups exhibit a profound light-induced biocidal effect. The present study examines the biocidal activity of the CPEs, correlating this activity with the photophysical properties of the polymers. The photophysical properties of the CPEs are studied in solution, and the results demonstrate that direct excitation produces a triplet excited-state in moderate yield, and the triplet is shown to be effective at sensitizing the production of singlet oxygen. Using the polymers in a format where they are physisorbed or covalently grafted to the surface of colloidal silica particles (5 and 30 microm diameter), we demonstrate that they exhibit light-activated biocidal activity, effectively killing Cobetia marina and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The light-induced biocidal activity is also correlated with a requirement for oxygen suggesting that interfacial generation of singlet oxygen is the crucial step in the light-induced biocidal activity.

Toxicity of dodecylpyridinium and cetylpyridinium clorides against phosphate-accumulating bacterium

The antibacterial effect of cationic surfactants against the pure culture of phosphate (P)-accumulating bacterium Acinetobacter junii was investigated. The estimated EC50 values of the N-dodecylpyridinium chloride (DPC) for growth inhibition was 1.4±0.5 × 10−6 mol L−1 and for the inhibition of the P-uptake rates 7.3±2.6 × 10−5 mol L−1. The estimated EC50 values of the N-cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC) for growth inhibition was 4.9±1.3 × 10−7 mol L−1 and for the inhibition of the P-uptake rates 7.7±2.9 × 10−6 mol L−1. This suggests the importance of controlling the amounts of cationic surfactants in influent of the wastewater treatment systems in order to avoid the possible failure of the biological P removal from wastewaters.

Chemical and Constitutional Influences in the Self-Assembly of Functional Supramolecular Hydrogen-Bonded Nanoscopic Fibres

A new series of secondary amides bearing long alkyl chains with pi-electron-donor cores has been synthesized and characterised, and their self-assembly upon casting at surfaces has been studied. The different supramolecular assemblies of the materials have been visualized by using atomic force microscopy (AFM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). It is possible to obtain well-defined fibres of these aromatic core molecules as a result of the hydrogen bonds between the amide groups. Indeed, by altering the alkyl-chain lengths, constitutions, concentrations and solvent, it is possible to form different rodlike aggregates on graphite. Aggregate sizes with a lower limit of 6-8 nm width have been reached for different amide derivatives, while others show larger aggregates with rodlike morphologies which are several micrometers in length. For one compound that forms nanofibres, doping was performed by using a chemical oxidant, and the resulting layer on graphite was shown to exhibit metallic-like spectroscopy curves when probed with current-sensing AFM. This technique also revealed current maps of the surface of the molecular material. Fibre formation not only takes place on the graphite surface: nanometre scale rods have been imaged by using TEM on a grid after evaporation of solutions of the compounds in chloroform. Molecular modelling proves the importance of the hydrogen bonds in the generation of the fibres, and indicates that the constitution of the molecules is vital for the formation of the desired columnar stacks, results that are consistent with the images obtained by microscopic techniques. The results show the power of noncovalent bonds in self-assembly processes that can lead to electrically conducting nanoscale supramolecular wires.