Monovalent Salt Effects on the Membrane Activity of Antimicrobial Polymers

Author:

Som, Abhigyan   Choi, Yeon   Tew, Gregory N.  

Journal:

Macromolecular Symposia

Issue Date:

2009

Abstract(summary):

Synthetic mimics of antimicrobial peptides (SMAMPs) are known to disrupt cellular membranes in aqueous media. The impact of ionic strength, or the salt concentration, on membrane activity of these SMAMPs is an important issue since some AMPs are known to lose their activity at higher salt concentrations. In this report, the effect of salt concentration on membrane activity was evaluated using fluorescence dye leakage assays. Salt concentration did not affect the membrane activity of these SMAMPs significantly except for the 100% anionic vesicles (phosphatidylglycerol (PG) or phosphatidylserine (PS) only), where membrane activity decreased with increasing salt concentration. The results also indicated that the membrane activity of SMAMPs with monoamine side chains is independent on ionic strength against cardiolipin (CL) vesicles; however, SMAMPs containing bis- or tris-amines exhibited salt concentration dependent membrane activity for CL liposomes.

Page:

319-325