Site-specific grafting on titanium surfaces with hybrid temporin antibacterial peptides.

Relying on a membrane-disturbing mechanism of action and not on any intracellular target, antimicrobial peptides (AMP) are attractive compounds to be grafted on the surface of implantable materials such as silicone catheters or titanium surgical implants. AMP sequences often display numerous reactive functions (e.g. amine, carboxylic acid) on their side chains and straightforward conjugation chemistries could lead to uncontrolled covalent grafting, random orientation, and non-homogenous density. To achieve an easy and site specific covalent attachment of unprotected peptides on titanium surfaces, we designed hybrid silylated biomolecules based on the temporin-SHa amphipathic helical antimicrobial sequence. With the grafting reaction being chemoselective, we designed five analogues displaying the silane anchoring function at the N-ter, C-ter or at different positions inside the sequence to get an accurate control of the orientation. Grafting density calculations were performed by XPS and the influence of the orientation of the peptide on the surface was clearly demonstrated by the measure of antimicrobial activity. Temporin amphipathic helices are described to permeabilize the bacterial membrane by interacting in a parallel orientation with it. Our results move in the direction of this mechanism as the selective grafting of hybrid temporin 2 through a lysine placed at the center of the peptide sequence, resulted in better biofilm growth inhibition of E. coli and S. epidermis than substrates in which temporins were grafted via their C- or N-terminus.

Simple and Specific Grafting of Antibacterial Peptides on Silicone Catheters.

To fight against nosocomial infection initiated by colonization of medical devices, a strategy enabling the direct and fast functionalization of silicone surfaces is proposed. This strategy proceeds in a site-specific way using original hybrid silylated antibacterial peptides. This safe and up-scalable method guarantees a covalent and robust immobilization with the correct orientation of the bioactive moiety. Importantly it also avoids multi-step chemical modifications of the surface or multi-layer polymer coatings. As proof of concept, antibacterial silicone catheter has been prepared whose immediate and long term efficiency is superior by comparison to similar silver-embedded materials.

Engineered Adhesion Peptides for Improved Silicon Adsorption.

Engineering peptides that present selective recognition and high affinity for a material is a major challenge for assembly-driven elaboration of complex systems with wide applications in the field of biomaterials, hard-tissue regeneration, and functional materials for therapeutics. Peptide-material interactions are of vital importance in natural processes but less exploited for the design of novel systems for practical applications because of our poor understanding of mechanisms underlying these interactions. Here, we present an approach based on the synthesis of several truncated peptides issued from a silicon-specific peptide recovered via phage display technology. We use the photonic response provided by porous silicon microcavities to evaluate the binding efficiency of 14 different peptide derivatives. We identify and engineer a short peptide sequence (SLVSHMQT), revealing the highest affinity for p(+)-Si. The molecular recognition behavior of the obtained peptide fragment can be revealed through mutations allowing identification of the preferential affinity of certain amino acids toward silicon. These results constitute an advance in both the engineering of peptides that reveal recognition properties for silicon and the understanding of biomolecule-material interactions.

A new way to silicone-based peptide polymers.

We describe a new class of silicone-containing peptide polymers obtained by a straightforward polymerization in water using tailored chlorodimethylsilyl peptide blocks as monomeric units. This general strategy is applicable to any type of peptide sequences, yielding linear or branched polymer chains composed of well-defined peptide sequences.

Turning peptides in comb silicone polymers.

We have recently reported on a new class of silicone-peptide' biopolymers obtained by polymerization of di-functionalized chlorodimethylsilyl hybrid peptides. Herein, we describe a related strategy based on dichloromethylsilane-derived peptides, which yield novel polymers with a polysiloxane backbone, comparable with a silicone-bearing pendent peptide chains. Interestingly, polymerization is chemoselective toward amino acids side-chains and proceeds in a single step in very mild conditions (neutral pH, water, and room temperature). As potential application, a cationic sequence was polymerized and used for antibacterial coating.

Bioorganic hybrid OMS by straightforward grafting of trialkoxysilyl peptides.

A novel strategy for the synthesis of peptide-bioorganic hybrid silica materials is reported. It relies on the design of hybrid peptides bearing a trialkoxysilane group. These reactive monomers are covalently attached to silica without requiring any prior surface modification. As an example, a bioorganic-inorganic OMS aldolisation catalyst is prepared using the peptide sequence Pro-Pro-Asp-Lys.

From protected trialkoxysilyl-peptide building blocks to bioorganic-silica hybrid materials.

A straightforward method for the preparation of hybrid bioorganic-inorganic materials is reported. Common strategies to synthesize such promising materials require special surface modifications of silica followed by grafting of the organic moiety via chemoselective ligation. In this context, we set up a general and bottom-up strategy relying on modified peptides functionalized with a trialkoxysilane group. Used in mixtures with TEOS and a surfactant as the structure directing agent, these hybrid building blocks allow one step direct synthesis of bioorganic-inorganic hybrid materials. Two examples were chosen to demonstrate our general approach. (1) An antifouling surface was prepared by dip coating of a sol containing an antibacterial silylated peptide. (2) Organized mesoporous silica displaying a peptide catalyst in the pores was prepared in one step and tested.

Transformations of griseofulvin in strong acidic conditions--crystal structures of 2'-demethylgriseofulvin and dimerized griseofulvin.

The structure of griseofulvic acid, C16H15ClO6, at 100 K has orthorhombic (P2(1)2(1)2) symmetry. It is of interest with respect to biological activity. The structure displays intermolecular O-H...O, C-H...O hydrogen bonding as well as week C-H...pi and pi...pi interactions. In strong acidic conditions the griseofulvin undergoes dimerization. The structure of dimerized griseofulvin, C34H32C12O12 x C2H6O x H2O, at 100 K has monoclinic (P2(1)) symmetry. The molecule crystallized as a solvate with one ethanol and one water molecule. The dimeric molecules form intermolecular O-H...O hydrogen bonds to solvents molecules only but they interact via week C-H...O, C-H...pi, C-Cl...pi and pi...pi interactions with other dimerized molecules.

Supramolecular stabilization of acid tolerant L-arabinose isomerase from Lactobacillus sakei.

L-Arabinose isomerase stability is a crucial criterion for the industrial application of this biocatalyst. Noria and NoriaPG are capable of increasing the L-arabinose isomerase stability not only at high temperatures but also at low pH. Such results highlight, for the first time, the use of the Noria series of molecules for protein stabilization and activation.

A dodecameric self-assembled calix[4]arene aggregate with two types of cavities.

Twelve molecules of ß-carbonyl-para-octyl-calix[4]arene assemble in an aggregate containing two types of cavities filled by water molecules and they pack in a cubic structure. Both the aggregates and the packing resemble that observed for inverse micelles.

Solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) derived from para-acyl-calix[9]-arene: preparation and stability.

A study of the parameters relating to the preparation of para-acyl-calix[9]arene-based solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) has been undertaken. Dynamic light scattering and electron microscopy have shown that the particle size varies between 85 and 215 nm depending on the acyl chain length. Parameters, including the organic solvent, amphiphile concentration and the presence of a co-surfactant affect the size of the SLNs obtained significantly. In contrast, stirring speed and solution viscosity have no effect. The ionic strength of the suspension has been shown to affect SLN stability in a salt-dependent manner. Ultrasonic and ultraviolet and 80°C treatment of the SLN suspensions have no effect on the SLN stability. The SLNs are unstable with respect to freezing–defreezing cycles, but can be reconstituted using mono- or disaccharides as cryoprotectants. Importantly, the temporal stability of these suspensions in water has been shown to be superior to 6 months. With regard to protein interactions, no SLN aggregation was observed in the presence of human serum albumin, with formation of a monolayer of albumin on the surface of the SLNs. Encapsulation was shown using acridine as a fluorescent probe.

Streptidinium sulfate monohydrate.

In streptidinium sulfate monohydrate {systematic name: 1,1'-[(1S,3R,4S,6R)-2,4,5,6-tetrahydroxycyclohexane-1,3-diyl]diguanidinium sulfate monohydrate}, C(8)H(20)N(6)O(4)(2+).SO(4)(2-).H(2)O, at 100 (2) K, the components are arranged in double helices based on hydrogen bonds. One helix contains streptidinium cations and the other contains disordered sulfate anions and solvent water molecules. The helices are linked into a three-dimensional hydrogen-bonded network by O-H...O and N-H...O hydrogen bonds.

para-Acylcalix[n]arenes: from molecular to macroscopic assemblies.

The para-acylcalix[n]arenes possess a very rich capacity to self-assemble into a wide variety of structures and sizes ranging from molecular assemblies through dimeric capsules, molecular sheets to nanoparticles. All these assemblies are capable of taking guest molecules and in the process of this inclusion discrete nanoscopic reaction vessels may be formed for photochemistry. Interestingly this uptake of quite large organic molecules occurs in the bulk in non-porous crystals without loss of crystallinity. At the air-water interface either as Langmuir monolayers or as colloidal suspensions the para-acylcalix[n]arenes show interaction with ionic species. The extension from para-acylcalix[4]arenes to para-acylcalix[8]arenes is in its infancy but already there is much promise for novel assemblies to be found.

Designer amphiphiles based on para-acyl-calix[8]arenes.

The synthesis of a series of fully O-derivatised para-acyl-calix[8]arenes is described, where the acyl function is either octanoyl or hexadecanoyl. The groups attached at the phenolic face are, carboxymethoxy (anionic), carboxypropoxy (anionic), 4-sulfonatobutoxy (anionic), ethoxycarboxymethoxy (neutral), ethoxycarboxypropoxy (neutral), 2-methoxyethoxy (neutral) and 2-(2-methoxy)diethoxy (neutral). The use of specific synthetic routes has allowed complete substitution in high yields for all the compounds obtained. The interfacial properties of the compounds have been studied and stable monolayers have been obtained for certain compounds in the series having para-octanoyl substituents; all compounds studied in the series having para-hexadecanoyl substituents formed stable monolayers at the air-water interface. The interactions between O-4-sulfonatobutoxy-para-ocatanoylcalix[8]arene and a series of serum albumins have been studied by dynamic light scattering and specific adsorption of the calix-[8]-arene derivative onto the proteins observed. The anionic derivatives O-4-sulfonatobutoxy-para-ocatanoylcalix[8]arene and O-carboxymethoxy-para-ocatanoylcalix[8]arene have been shown to possess anticoagulant properties but to have no haemolytic toxicity.

A molecular turnstile in para-octanoyl calix[4]arene nanocapsules.

The thermal treatment of different inclusion complexes of para-octanoyl calix[4]arene leads to the formation of a guest-free van der Waals nanocapsular structure possessing a remarkable stability caused by the high mobility of alkanoyl arms.