Engineering Cationic Hyperbranched Polyureas for Combating Bacterial Biofilms
Yao Luo, Guoyi Yu, Xiaobo Liu, Yanwen Feng, Pei Zhao, Jun Yue
Abstract
Cationic hyperbranched polyureas are promising antibiotic alternatives in killing numerous strains of bacteria. However, their significance in fighting against biofilm and biofilm-associated chronic infections is still unknown. Here we synthesized and engineered the terminal branches of hyperbranched polyureas with a high density of quaternary ammonium groups (aBPUs@QA) and systematically investigated their efficacy in biofilm prevention and eradication. Results showed that aBPUs@QA could not only kill bacteria via punching holes in bacterial membranes but also inhibit the biofilm formation via regulating the bacterial surface attachment and interfering with the surface-associated motilities of bacteria. Moreover, aBPUs@QA showed a deep biofilm penetration capacity and a high potency of biofilm eradication, resulting in a high efficacy in promoting the healing of bacteria-infected chronic wounds.