In vitro cytotoxicity and skin irritation testing of antimicrobial conjugated electrolytes : interactions with mammalian cells
type: CreativeWork
description: An estimated 19,000 deaths and $3-4 billion in health care costs per year in the U.S. are attributed to methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections. Certain cationic phenylene ethynylene (CPE)-based polymers (PPEs) and oligomers (OPEs) have been demonstrated to exhibit dark and light-activated antimicrobial activity. Envisioned applications of these CPEs include the fabrication of antimicrobial surfaces to reduce or prevent the spread of potentially untreatable strains of bacteria. Until recently, it was unknown if the polymers or oligomers would exhibit similar biocidal activity toward mammalian cells. This work examines the toxicity of CPEs to mammalian cells at three levels: cytoxicity testing of cell monolayers, skin irritation testing of tissues, and intracellular co-localization. Eight CPEs, two PPEs and six OPEs, were selected for these studies based on biocidal activity and diversity of repeat unit number and functional groups. In the cytotoxicity studies, two cell types were exposed to eight CPEs at concentrations from 1-100 μg/mL for 24 hours. As expected, concentration plays the largest role in determining viability. At intermediate concentrations (~5-10 μg/mL ), the interplay between light and the light-activated compounds is very important. To mimic skin exposure in vitro, eight CPEs and two types of electrospun mats were selected for skin irritation testing using tissues derived from human epidermal keratinocytes. PPE-DABCO and PPE-Th were non-irritants up to the highest tested concentrations, 924 μg/mL and 100 μg/mL, respectively. The lack of skin irritation for all substances, as measured by two endpoints, alleviates initial safety concerns for products based on these polymers and oligomers, both in solution and as electrospun mats. In the localization studies, three compounds (one polymer and two oligomers) were included in growth media above epithelial cell monolayers for 1-4 hours, stained to localize the nearest membrane or orga…
abstract: An estimated 19,000 deaths and $3-4 billion in health care costs per year in the U.S. are attributed to methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections. Certain cationic phenylene ethynylene (CPE)-based polymers (PPEs) and oligomers (OPEs) have been demonstrated to exhibit dark and light-activated antimicrobial activity. Envisioned applications of these CPEs include the fabrication of antimicrobial surfaces to reduce or prevent the spread of potentially untreatable strains of bacteria. Until recently, it was unknown if the polymers or oligomers would exhibit similar biocidal activity toward mammalian cells. This work examines the toxicity of CPEs to mammalian cells at three levels: cytoxicity testing of cell monolayers, skin irritation testing of tissues, and intracellular co-localization. Eight CPEs, two PPEs and six OPEs, were selected for these studies based on biocidal activity and diversity of repeat unit number and functional groups. In the cytotoxicity studies, two cell types were exposed to eight CPEs at concentrations from 1-100 μg/mL for 24 hours. As expected, concentration plays the largest role in determining viability. At intermediate concentrations (~5-10 μg/mL ), the interplay between light and the light-activated compounds is very important. To mimic skin exposure in vitro, eight CPEs and two types of electrospun mats were selected for skin irritation testing using tissues derived from human epidermal keratinocytes. PPE-DABCO and PPE-Th were non-irritants up to the highest tested concentrations, 924 μg/mL and 100 μg/mL, respectively. The lack of skin irritation for all substances, as measured by two endpoints, alleviates initial safety concerns for products based on these polymers and oligomers, both in solution and as electrospun mats. In the localization studies, three compounds (one polymer and two oligomers) were included in growth media above epithelial cell monolayers for 1-4 hours, stained to localize the nearest membrane or orga…
author: Wilde, Kristin N.
language: English
keywords: antimicrobial, polymer, in vitro, cytotoxicity, cell, skin, irritation, oligomer, electrolyte, phenylene ethynylene, conjugated, antibacterial, biocide; Antimicrobial polymers--Toxicity., Microbial sensitivity tests.
date published: 2012-08-28T07:00:00Z
date modified: 2026-07-24T05:26:42Z
provider: University of New Mexico
publisher: Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
type: WebPage
source organization: University of New Mexico

PropertyValue
property ID: Handle
value: http://hdl.handle.net/1928/21090