Self-assembled cationic amphiphiles as antimicrobial peptides mimics: Role of hydrophobicity, linkage type, and assembly state

Taking a biomimetic approach, we strategically synthesized two series of cationic camphiphiles (CAms) as synthetic mimics of antimicrobial peptides. Notably, one identified lead compound has one of the best antimicrobial properties reported in the literature to date, with minimum inhibitory concentrations in low μg/mL range, as well as negligible toxicity. We validated that CAms possess antimicrobial activity with membrane-disrupting mechanism, which can reduce tendency of resistance development in bacteria. This study demonstrates that these CAms can serve as viable scaffolds for rationally designing the next generation of effective antimicrobial agents to combat drug-resistant pathogens.404