Bacterial Infection Treatment

With increasing antibiotic resistance, the treatment of bacterial diseases has evolved from antibiotics to the development of novel antibiotics and delivery systems. Dendrimers are of great interest in many scientific fields, from chemistry and biotechnology to biochemical applications, because of their unique composition and structure. Recent advances and innovations in molecular and polymer chemistry have led to the development of dendrimers that are used in the development of antibacterial agents, antiviral agents, and antiparasitic agents. When used in disease treatment dendrimers offer the advantages of reduced cytotoxicity, increased drug specificity, improved bioavailability, longer half-life, and avoidance of premature degradation of drugs due to enzymatic reactions or other clearance mechanisms.

Introduction into the Treatment of Bacterial Infections

Bacteria are microscopic single-celled organisms that can be classified as Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and live almost anywhere. When harmful strains of bacteria proliferate in vivo or in vitro they cause bacterial infections that lead to bacterial diseases. Antibiotics are the most effective drugs for treating bacterial diseases, and they can do so by disrupting the processes needed for bacterial growth or proliferation. Antibiotic resistance is when bacteria are no longer sensitive to a drug to which they should be sensitive. With the overuse and misuse of antibiotics, antibiotic resistance is gradually on the rise. It may increase the risk of death when antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections occur, which is very dangerous. Therefore, the development of novel antibiotics and antibiotic delivery systems is imminent.

Dendrimers as Antibacterial Agents

Unlike antiviral drugs, antimicrobial dendrimers contain cationic surfaces and are usually modified with amino acid groups or tetraalkylammonium groups. These dendrimers can adhere to the anionic cell wall of bacteria, causing the breakdown of the entire bacteria. Dendrimers are used as antimicrobial agents by modification of functional groups or as delivery carriers for antibiotics. It has been shown that PPI dendrimers modified with tert-alkylammonium groups are an effective antimicrobial agent against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria.

Synthesis of polyphenolic dendrimers with antibacterial activity. (Sanz Del Olmo N, et al., 2020)

• Antimicrobial Agents for Gram-negative Bacteria
  Gram-negative bacteria include E. coli, Shigella, Salmonella and Vibrio cholera. Lysine-modified dendrimers containing surface mannose molecules showed high antibacterial activity against E. coli. Quaternary ammonium functionalized poly (propylene imine) dendrimers can also be used as potential Gram-negative antibacterial agents, and their functionality depends on the length of the hydrophobic chain. Another way in which dendrimers can be used as Gram-negative antimicrobial agents is as carriers for the delivery of antibiotics against Gram-negative bacteria.
• Antimicrobial Agents for Gram-positive Bacterial
  Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) is the most representative Gram-positive bacterium and one of the most drug-resistant and infectious. As an opportunistic pathogen, S. aureus is particularly dangerous for patients with chronic diseases, compromised immune systems or those who have undergone surgery and require better therapeutic approaches. PPI dendrimers modified with maltose have inhibitory effects against S. aureus. In addition, carbosilane dendrimers can act as a scaffold for metal ions. Metal ions, such as copper (II) and ruthenium (II), are effective inhibitors of bacterial biofilms when combined with carbosilane dendrimers.

How We Can Help

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Reference

1. Sanz Del Olmo N.; et al. Antioxidant and Antibacterial Properties of Carbosilane Dendrimers Functionalized with Polyphenolic Moieties. Pharmaceutics. 2020, 12: 698.