Peptidomimetic Antimicrobial PEGtides:A Modular Approach to Combat Bacteria
발표자
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초록
내용
Despite their high potency, the widespread implementation and use of antimicrobial peptides is still challenging due to their low in vivo efficacy and productivity, and high hemolytic activity. Herein, we address these issues by employing a minimal approach to mimic the key amino acid residues present in antimicrobial peptides, such as lysine, leucine, and serine, on the highly biocompatible poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) as a platform. We introduce a series of PEG-based peptides (PEGtides) using functional epoxide monomers, corresponding to each key amino acid. These PEGtides possessed highly potent bactericidal activities as well as controlled selectivity with respect to their hemolytic behavior. The critical role of the PEGtide microstructure in the selectivity was also thoroughly analyzed using coarse-grained molecular dynamic simulations. This modular approach shed a light on the design principles necessary for the further and future development of antimicrobial polymers.