Article abstract
Nature Nanotechnology 4, 457 - 463 (2009)
Published online: 28 June 2009 | doi:10.1038/nnano.2009.153
Subject Categories: Molecular self-assembly | Nanomedicine | Nanoparticles
Self-assembled cationic peptide nanoparticles as an efficient antimicrobial agent
Lihong Liu1,4, Kaijin Xu2, Huaying Wang2, P. K. Jeremy Tan1, Weimin Fan2,3, Subbu S. Venkatraman4, Lanjuan Li2 & Yi-Yan Yang1
Abstract
Antimicrobial cationic peptides are of interest because they can combat multi-drug-resistant microbes. Most peptides form 
-helices or 
-sheet-like structures that can insert into and subsequently disintegrate negatively charged bacterial cell surfaces. Here, we show that a novel class of core–shell nanoparticles formed by self-assembly of an amphiphilic peptide have strong antimicrobial properties against a range of bacteria, yeasts and fungi. The nanoparticles show a high therapeutic index against Staphylococcus aureus infection in mice and are more potent than their unassembled peptide counterparts. Using Staphylococcus aureus-infected meningitis rabbits, we show that the nanoparticles can cross the blood–brain barrier and suppress bacterial growth in infected brains. Taken together, these nanoparticles are promising antimicrobial agents that can be used to treat brain infections and other infectious diseases.
- Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, 31 Biopolis Way, Singapore 138669, Singapore
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, 79 Qingchun Road, Hangzhou 310003, China
- Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina 29425, USA
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 639798, Singapore
Correspondence to: Yi-Yan Yang1 e-mail: yyyang@ibn.a-star.edu.sg
Correspondence to: Lanjuan Li2 e-mail: ljli@zju.edu.cn
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