Yueming Wu, PhD |East China University of Science and Technology; Runhui Liu, PhD
Competition Sponsor: Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences
Awardee Year: 2024
In the intensive care unit (ICU), catheter-induced bacterial colonization and urinary tract infections (UTIs) are critical challenges, exacerbated by the rising issue of antibiotic resistance. Traditional antimicrobial-coated catheters are no longer sufficient to meet clinical demands, necessitating the urgent need for innovative anti-infection strategies to reduce patient complications and enhance care quality.
This research focuses on designing and synthesizing antimicrobial polymers that mimic host defense peptides (HDPs) using ring-opening polymerization. HDPs are promising alternatives to traditional antibiotics due to their broad-spectrum antimicrobial properties and low potential for resistance. However, their poor biostability and high cost limit their practical applications. This project aims to overcome these limitations by developing novel HDP-mimic antimicrobial polymers that maintain the advantages of HDPs while improving stability in physiological environments and cost-effectiveness. We use fast and open-vessel ring-opening polymerization which enables precise control over polymer structure. This ensures that the resulting HDP-mimic polymers exhibit potent antimicrobial activity against drug-resistant bacteria both in vitro and in vivo, while preventing the development of microbial resistance. Additionally, the successful covalent grafting of these antimicrobial polymers onto catheter surfaces has demonstrated significant efficacy against drug-resistant bacteria in laboratory tests and in large animal experiments, laying a solid foundation for clinical translation.
The anticipated outcomes include the development of a highly effective, low-resistance antimicrobial coating for catheters, leading to a significant reduction in catheter-associated UTIs in the ICU. This innovative solution aims to address the global challenge of antibiotic resistance and improve ICU patient safety and outcomes.