Biomimetic Antibiotics - Synthesis and Characterization of Antibiotic Polymers with Low Resistance Development Potential

• Applicant: Professorin Dr. Karen Lienkamp
• Subject Area: Preparatory and Physical Chemistry of Polymers
• Term: from 2007 to 2010
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 56358005

The aim of this project is to prepare synthetic polymers with antimicrobial properties. Thisbiomimetic approach is based on the observation that many organisms produce antimicrobial peptides(AMPs). These substances have broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity, while the cells of the hostorganism are hardly affected due to their different chemical composition. Due to the complicatedsynthesis of AMPs based on amino acids and peptides, their application as pharmaceuticals is limited.A facilitated approach to obtain such molecules based on synthetic polymers is thus highly desirable.While still capturing the key features of AMPs (amphiphilicity and positive charge), synthetic AMPs canbe obtained and up-scaled more easily. In this project, polymers based on poly(isocyanates) and otherscaffolds are to be synthesized and characterized. The antimicrobial activity of these polymers can betuned by varying the polarity of the isocyanate monomer(s) and the chain length of the polymer. Bycopolymerization of different isocyanate monomers, the facial amphiphilicity of the resulting polymercan be further modified. Their interaction of these materials with model membranes as well as theirbiological activity and selectivity will be investigated.

• DFG Programme: Research Fellowships
• International Connection: USA
• Host: Professor Dr. Gregory N. Tew