Ionic liquids (ILs) are a group of organic molecular liquid salts that are non-volatile, highly conductive, environmentally friendly, and easy to synthesize and mix with other compounds. ILs have a chemical structure that can be modulated to allow for cationic/anionic interactions. The ILs with greater hydrophobic cation properties have the capability to alter cellular membranes suggesting a proposed application for ILs in drug delivery. In this study, we explore the effects of ionic liquids in combination with antibiotics on yeast (S. cerevisiae) and several diverse species of bacteria including: P. aeri, E. coli, and S. aure. In order to measure the effect that ILs have on antibiotic efficacy, we first found the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) for the antibiotic in each of the organisms used in this study. Using the MIC data, we created a matrix of various concentrations of the given antibiotic and IL mixed with the specific cells. Flow cytometry was used to measure the IL induced cellular permeability and finally, a viability/cellular growth test was administered for the cells exposed to the antibiotic with the IL. From our study, we found that the ILs could potentially permeate the membrane to enhance the efficacy of antibiotics to inhibit bacterial growth and reduce the concentration of effective antibiotic.

Application of ionic liquids in the efficacy of antibiotics with yeast and bacterial cells

Macromolecular Chemistry: The Second Century

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ACS Spring 2020 National Meeting & Expo

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.