N-Arylimidazoliums as Highly Selective Biomimetic Antimicrobial Agents

J Med Chem. 2022 Aug 25;65(16):11309-11321. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.2c00818. Epub 2022 Aug 5.

Abstract

Antibiotic resistance has become one of the greatest health threats in the world. In this study, a charge-dispersed dimerization strategy is described for the antimicrobial peptide (AMP) mimics via a tunable cationic charge to improve the selectivity between prokaryotic microbes and eukaryotic cells. This strategy is demonstrated with a series of charge-dispersed AMP mimics based on N-arylimidazolium skeletons. These N-arylimidazolium AMP mimics show potent antibacterial activity against strains along with a low rate of drug resistance, good hemocompatibility, and low cytotoxicity. In addition to the elimination of planktonic bacteria, N-arylimidazolium AMP mimics can also inhibit biofilm formation and destroy the established biofilm. More importantly, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)-induced lung-infected mice can be effectively treated by the intravenous administration of N-arylimidazolium AMP mimic, which enable the design of N-arylimidazolium AMP mimics to offer an alternative avenue to eradicate drug-resistant bacterial infection.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology
  • Anti-Infective Agents* / pharmacology
  • Biofilms
  • Biomimetics
  • Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus*
  • Mice
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Anti-Infective Agents