Ionene Polymers Supramolecular Assembly Antimicrobial

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current antimicrobial agents face challenges such as the development of resistance in pathogens, particularly in nosocomial infections, and lack of efficacy against biofilms, due to their inability to penetrate extracellular polymeric substances and their potential for cross- and co-resistance with clinically used antibiotics.

Innovation Solution

Development of ionene and polyionene compositions with antimicrobial functionality, featuring a bis(urea)guanidinium structure that can supramolecularly assemble and electrostatically disrupt bacterial membranes, incorporating cationic units and hydrophobic functional groups to enhance membrane association and lysis.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional antimicrobial agents are used, then they can kill bacteria, but pathogens develop resistance and cross-resistance with antibiotics

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveantimicrobial efficacyVSAvoidresistance development

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical parameters of antimicrobial agents by using ionene and polyionene compositions with cationic units and hydrophobic functional groups, altering the mechanism of action to electrostatic disruption of bacterial membranes, which prevents resistance development while maintaining efficacy

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates composite antimicrobial compositions by combining ionene units with degradable backbones, cationic units, and hydrophobic functional groups into a single polymer structure, achieving both effective membrane disruption and controlled degradation to prevent resistance

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If conventional antimicrobial agents are applied, then they can treat infections, but they fail to penetrate and eradicate biofilms

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinfection treatment efficacyVSAvoidbiofilm protection

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the physical-chemical parameters of the antimicrobial agent by incorporating hydrophobic functional groups and cationic units that enable penetration through extracellular polymeric substances via electrostatic interactions, allowing eradication of biofilms while treating infections

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If ionene compositions with cationic units are used to enhance membrane association, then antimicrobial activity increases, but hemolysis may occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveantimicrobial activityVSAvoidhemolysis

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by distributing cationic units and hydrophobic functional groups at specific locations along the polymer backbone, creating regions of high antimicrobial activity while maintaining overall biocompatibility and controlled hemolysis

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent optimizes parameters by controlling the ratio and distribution of cationic units to hydrophobic groups, adjusting the overall charge density and hydrophobicity to maximize bacterial membrane disruption while minimizing red blood cell damage

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

4Object-generated harmful factors

If degradable backbones are incorporated into ionene units, then the composition becomes more environmentally friendly, but structural stability may be reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenvironmental persistenceVSAvoidstructural stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-generated harmful factorsVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the polymer structure into distinct functional regions: a degradable backbone for environmental friendliness, and stable cationic units with hydrophobic groups for antimicrobial activity, allowing each segment to perform its specific function optimally

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

These ionene and polyionene compositions demonstrate effective antimicrobial activity against a broad spectrum of pathogens, including resistant strains and biofilms, with controlled hemolysis and cell viability, offering a potential solution to resistance issues and biofilm eradication.

Implementation Method 1

ionene and polyionene compositions capable of supramolecular assembly

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSupramolecular assembly: Self-Assembly

Implementation Method 2

electrostatically disrupt bacterial membranes

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrostatic interaction: Electrostatics

Implementation Method 3

incorporating cationic units and hydrophobic functional groups to enhance membrane association and lysis

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHydrophobic interaction: Hydrophobe

Data Source

PatentUS11617367B2Antimicrobial polymers capable of supramolecular assembly

Publication Date: 2023.04.04 INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINE CORPORATION

AI summary

Techniques regarding chemical compounds with antimicrobial functionality are provided. For example, one or more embodiments describe herein can comprise a monomer that can comprise a molecular backbone. The molecular backbone can comprise a bis(urea)guanidinium structure covalently bonded to a functional group, which can comprise a radical. Also, the monomer can have supramolecular assembly functionality.