Quaternary Ammonium Compounds (QACs) have been used as potent and prolific disinfectants for many years both in homes and hospitals. These amphiphillic molecules have been shown to disrupt bacterial membranes causing thinning of the membranes, depolarization, and leakage of intercellular components. Researchers continue to work to improve upon these antimicrobials in the battle against antibiotic resistance to improve potency and off-target effects. We have successfully developed several different classes of QACs with multiple charged centers and unique structures which demonstrate potent biofilm inhibition and are less susceptible to resistance development. We have also demonstrated that installation of an amide can allow for biodegradation without loss of activity, further limiting accumulation in ground water and waste water treatment plants. These findings show that simple modifications can improve upon the commercially available QACs both in potency and susceptibility to resistance development. To date, our biological analysis has been performed only against laboratory strains of bacteria. Herein, we disclose the activities of our most active QACs tested against clinically isolated strains of bacteria, provided by the Walter Reed Medical Center. These strains carry resistance genes for commonly used antibiotics which allows us to contextualize the potential impact of these designed QACs with practical disinfecting applications in mind.

Biological investigation of quaternary ammonium compounds against clinical bacterial strains

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.