A Supramolecular Antibiotic Switch for Antibacterial Regulation

Angew Chem Int Ed Engl. 2015 Nov 2;54(45):13208-13. doi: 10.1002/anie.201504566. Epub 2015 Aug 26.

Abstract

A supramolecular antibiotic switch is described that can reversibly "turn-on" and "turn-off" its antibacterial activity on demand, providing a proof-of-concept for a way to regulate antibacterial activity of biotics. The switch relies on supramolecular assembly and disassembly of cationic poly(phenylene vinylene) derivative (PPV) with cucurbit[7]uril (CB[7]) to regulate their different interactions with bacteria. This simple but efficient strategy does not require any chemical modification on the active sites of the antibacterial agent, and could also regulate the antibacterial activity of classical antibiotics or photosensitizers in photodynamic therapy. This supramolecular antibiotic switch may be a successful strategy to fight bacterial infections and decrease the emergence of bacterial resistance to antibiotics from a long-term point of view.

Keywords: antibacterial regulation; antibiotics; bacterial resistance; molecular switches; supramolecular assembly.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / chemistry*
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology*
  • Bridged-Ring Compounds / chemistry*
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Drug Resistance, Microbial / drug effects
  • Escherichia coli / drug effects*
  • Imidazoles / chemistry*
  • Macromolecular Substances / chemistry
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Molecular Structure
  • Photochemotherapy
  • Photosensitizing Agents / chemistry
  • Photosensitizing Agents / pharmacology
  • Polyvinyls / chemistry*
  • Structure-Activity Relationship

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Bridged-Ring Compounds
  • Imidazoles
  • Macromolecular Substances
  • Photosensitizing Agents
  • Polyvinyls
  • cucurbit(7)uril
  • poly(4-phenylenevinylene)