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- Title
Bacteria-instructed synthesis of polymers for self-selective microbial binding and labelling.
- Authors
Magennis, E. Peter; Fernandez-Trillo, Francisco; Sui, Cheng; Spain, Sebastian G.; Bradshaw, David J.; Churchley, David; Mantovani, Giuseppe; Winzer, Klaus; Alexander, Cameron
- Abstract
The detection and inactivation of pathogenic strains of bacteria continues to be an important therapeutic goal. Hence, there is a need for materials that can bind selectively to specific microorganisms for diagnostic or anti-infective applications, but that can be formed from simple and inexpensive building blocks. Here, we exploit bacterial redox systems to induce a copper-mediated radical polymerization of synthetic monomers at cell surfaces, generating polymers in situ that bind strongly to the microorganisms that produced them. This 'bacteria-instructed synthesis' can be carried out with a variety of microbial strains, and we show that the polymers produced are self-selective binding agents for the 'instructing' cell types. We further expand on the bacterial redox chemistries to 'click' fluorescent reporters onto polymers directly at the surfaces of a range of clinical isolate strains, allowing rapid, facile and simultaneous binding and visualization of pathogens.
- Subjects
PATHOGENIC microorganisms; BLOCKS (Building materials); MICROBIOLOGICAL synthesis; CELL membranes; ANTI-infective agents; POLYMERS
- Publication
Nature Materials, 2014, Vol 13, Issue 7, p748
- ISSN
1476-1122
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1038/nmat3949