Poly(oxo-norbornenes) (PONs) are amphiphilic cationic polymers that possess antimicrobial activity. This antimicrobial activity is due to the hydrophobic alkyl and charged amine side chain. Since cationic polymers have been studied as an alternative to antimicrobial peptides, it is important to investigate the impact on model organisms. In this study, the model vertebrate organism, D. rerio., was used to investigate the impact of varying the amine/alkyl ratio and molecular weight of PONs. D. rerio. (zebrafish) embryos are used because they parallel human embryo development. Viability assays were conducted by exposing embryos to PONs of different amine/alkyl ratios and molecular weights. Embryos were exposed at 6 hours post fertilization (hpf) and the number of live embryos were counted every 12 hours until 48 hpf. Initial results indicate that altering the molecular structure of the PONs changes the toxicity on the zebrafish embryos. Specifically, increasing the polymer length and decreasing the amine/alkyl ratio of PONs decreases the viability of the zebrafish embryos, suggesting there is a stronger interaction due to increased amine charge density when large PONs associate with the zebrafish embryos. We hypothesized that the PONs is causing death through apoptosis. To test this, we are currently conducting activated caspase-3 immunolabeling to quantify and visualize apoptosis induced by the PONs in the zebrafish embryos. We will also investigate whether the expression of genes involved in apoptosis are altered in the embryos exposed to PONs.

Molecular level studies of the impact of poly(oxo-norbornenes) on danio rerio embryos

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.