Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
  • Publication
    Antibacterial effects of poly(2-(dimethylamino ethyl)methacrylate) against selected Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria
    Antimicrobial coatings can reduce the occurrence of medical device-related bacterial infections. Poly(2-(dimethylamino ethyl)methacrylate)) (pDMAEMA) is one such polymer that is being researched in this regard. The aims of this study were to (1) elucidate pDMAEMA’s antimicrobial activity against a range of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and (2) to investigate its antimicrobial mode of action. The methods used include determination of minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values against various bacteria and the effect of pH and temperature on antimicrobial activity. The ability of pDMAEMA to permeabilise bacterial membranes was determined using the dyes 1-N-phenyl-naphthylamine (NPN) and Calcein-AM. Flow cytometry was used to investigate pDMAEMA’s capacity to be internalised by bacteria and to determine effects on bacterial cell cycling. pDMAEMA was bacteriostatic against Gram-negative bacteria with MIC values between 0.1–10 mg/ml. MIC values against Gram-positive bacteria were variable. pDMAEMA was active against Gram-positive bacteria around its pKa and at lower pH values, while it was active against Gram-negative bacteria around its pKa and at higher pH values. pDMAEMA inhibited bacterial growth by binding to the outside of the bacteria, permeabilising the outer membrane and disrupting the cytoplasmic membrane. By incorporating pDMAEMA with erythromycin, it was found that the efficacy of the latter was increased against Gram-negative bacteria. Together, the results illustrate that pDMAEMA acts in a similar fashion to other cationic biocides.
    Scopus© Citations 209  1329
  • Publication
    PK/PD modelling of combed-shaped PEGylated salmon calcitonin conjugates of differing molecular weights
    Salmon calcitonin (sCT) was conjugated via cysteine-1 to novel comb-shaped end-functionalised (poly(PEG) methyl ether methacrylate) (sCT-P) polymers, to yield conjugates of total molecular weights (MW) inclusive of sCT: 6.5, 9.5, 23 and 40 kDa. The conjugates were characterised by HPLC and their in vitro and in vivo bioactivity was measured by cAMP assay on human T47D cells and following intravenous (i.v.) injection to rats, respectively. Stability against endopeptidases, rat serum and liver homogenates was assessed. There were linear and exponential relationships between conjugate MW with potency and efficacy respectively, however the largest MW conjugate still retained 70% of Emax and an EC50 of 3.7 nM. In vivo, while free sCT and the conjugates reduced serum [calcium] to a maximum of 15–30% over 240 min, the half-life (T1/2) was increased and the area under the curve (AUC) was extended in proportion to conjugate MW. Likewise, the polymer conferred protection on sCT against attack by trypsin, chymotrypsin, elastase, rat serum and liver homogenates, with the best protection afforded by sCT-P (40 kDa). Mathematical modelling accurately predicted the MW relationships to in vitro efficacy, potency, in vivo PK and enzymatic stability. With a significant increase in T1/2 for sCT, the 40 kDa MW comb-shaped PEG conjugate of sCT may have potential as a long-acting injectable formulation.
    Scopus© Citations 25  503