Synthesis, Characterization, and Photoinduced Antibacterial Activity of Porphyrin-Type Photosensitizers Conjugated to the Antimicrobial Peptide Apidaecin 1b
作者:Ryan Dosselli、Cristiano Tampieri、Rubén Ruiz-González、Sonia De Munari、Xavier Ragàs、David Sánchez-García、Montserrat Agut、Santi Nonell、Elena Reddi、Marina Gobbo
DOI:10.1021/jm301509n
日期:2013.2.14
Antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) is an emerging treatment for bacterial infections that is becoming increasingly more attractive because of its effectiveness against multi-antibiotic-resistant strains and unlikelihood of inducing bacterial resistance. Among the strategies to enhance the efficacy of PDT against Gram-negative bacteria, the binding to a cationic antimicrobial peptide offers the attractive prospect for improving both the water solubilty and the localization of the photoactive drug in bacteria. In this work we have compared a number of free and apidaecin-conjugated photosensitizers (PSs) differing in structure and charge. Our results indicate that the conjugation of per se ineffective highly hydrophobic PSs to a cationic peptide produces a photosensitizing agent effective against Gram-negative bacteria. Apidaecin cannot improve the phototoxic activity of cationic PSs, which mainly depends on a very high yield of singlet oxygen production in the surroundings of the bacterial outer membrane. Apidaecin-PS conjugates appear most promising for treatment protocols requiring repeated washing after sensitizer delivery.