Biofilm eradication and antifungal mechanism of action against Candida albicans of cationic dicephalic surfactants with a labile linker

Abstract Our research aims to expand the knowledge on relationships between the structure of cationic dicephalic surfactants—N,N-bis[3,3_-(dimethylamine)propyl]alkylamide dihydrochlorides and N,N-bis[3,3_-(trimethylammonio)propyl]alkylamide dibromides (alkyl: n-C9H19, n-C11H23, n-C13H27, n-C15H31)—a...

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Main Authors: Emil Paluch, Jakub Szperlik, Łukasz Lamch, Kazimiera A. Wilk, Ewa Obłąk
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Publishing Group 2021-04-01
Series:Scientific Reports
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-88244-1
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spelling doaj-bb73c3e6a6e2476c8e7aa2b024d16eef2021-05-02T11:34:04ZengNature Publishing GroupScientific Reports2045-23222021-04-0111111210.1038/s41598-021-88244-1Biofilm eradication and antifungal mechanism of action against Candida albicans of cationic dicephalic surfactants with a labile linkerEmil Paluch0Jakub Szperlik1Łukasz Lamch2Kazimiera A. Wilk3Ewa Obłąk4Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Wroclaw Medical UniversityDepartment of Genetic Biochemistry, Faculty of Biotechnology, University of WroclawDepartment of Engineering and Technology of Chemical Processes, Faculty of Chemistry, Wrocław University of Science and TechnologyDepartment of Engineering and Technology of Chemical Processes, Faculty of Chemistry, Wrocław University of Science and TechnologyDepartment Physicochemistry of Microorganisms, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of WrocławAbstract Our research aims to expand the knowledge on relationships between the structure of cationic dicephalic surfactants—N,N-bis[3,3_-(dimethylamine)propyl]alkylamide dihydrochlorides and N,N-bis[3,3_-(trimethylammonio)propyl]alkylamide dibromides (alkyl: n-C9H19, n-C11H23, n-C13H27, n-C15H31)—and their antifungal mechanism of action on Candida albicans. The mentioned groups of amphiphilic substances are characterized by the presence of a weak, hydrochloride cationic center readily undergoing deprotonation, as well as a stable, strong quaternary ammonium group and alkyl chains capable of strong interactions with fungal cells. Strong fungicidal properties and the role in creation and eradication of biofilm of those compounds were discussed in our earlier works, yet their mechanism of action remained unclear. It was shown that investigated surfactants induce strong oxidative stress and cause increase in cell membrane permeability without compromising its continuity, as indicated by increased potassium ion (K+) leakage. Thus experiments carried out on the investigated opportunistic pathogen indicate that the mechanism of action of the researched surfactants is different than in the case of the majority of known surfactants. Results presented in this paper significantly broaden the understanding on multifunctional cationic surfactants and their mechanism of action, as well as suggest their possible future applications as surface coating antiadhesives, fungicides and antibiofilm agents in medicine or industry.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-88244-1
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author Emil Paluch
Jakub Szperlik
Łukasz Lamch
Kazimiera A. Wilk
Ewa Obłąk
spellingShingle Emil Paluch
Jakub Szperlik
Łukasz Lamch
Kazimiera A. Wilk
Ewa Obłąk
Biofilm eradication and antifungal mechanism of action against Candida albicans of cationic dicephalic surfactants with a labile linker
Scientific Reports
author_facet Emil Paluch
Jakub Szperlik
Łukasz Lamch
Kazimiera A. Wilk
Ewa Obłąk
author_sort Emil Paluch
title Biofilm eradication and antifungal mechanism of action against Candida albicans of cationic dicephalic surfactants with a labile linker
title_short Biofilm eradication and antifungal mechanism of action against Candida albicans of cationic dicephalic surfactants with a labile linker
title_full Biofilm eradication and antifungal mechanism of action against Candida albicans of cationic dicephalic surfactants with a labile linker
title_fullStr Biofilm eradication and antifungal mechanism of action against Candida albicans of cationic dicephalic surfactants with a labile linker
title_full_unstemmed Biofilm eradication and antifungal mechanism of action against Candida albicans of cationic dicephalic surfactants with a labile linker
title_sort biofilm eradication and antifungal mechanism of action against candida albicans of cationic dicephalic surfactants with a labile linker
publisher Nature Publishing Group
series Scientific Reports
issn 2045-2322
publishDate 2021-04-01
description Abstract Our research aims to expand the knowledge on relationships between the structure of cationic dicephalic surfactants—N,N-bis[3,3_-(dimethylamine)propyl]alkylamide dihydrochlorides and N,N-bis[3,3_-(trimethylammonio)propyl]alkylamide dibromides (alkyl: n-C9H19, n-C11H23, n-C13H27, n-C15H31)—and their antifungal mechanism of action on Candida albicans. The mentioned groups of amphiphilic substances are characterized by the presence of a weak, hydrochloride cationic center readily undergoing deprotonation, as well as a stable, strong quaternary ammonium group and alkyl chains capable of strong interactions with fungal cells. Strong fungicidal properties and the role in creation and eradication of biofilm of those compounds were discussed in our earlier works, yet their mechanism of action remained unclear. It was shown that investigated surfactants induce strong oxidative stress and cause increase in cell membrane permeability without compromising its continuity, as indicated by increased potassium ion (K+) leakage. Thus experiments carried out on the investigated opportunistic pathogen indicate that the mechanism of action of the researched surfactants is different than in the case of the majority of known surfactants. Results presented in this paper significantly broaden the understanding on multifunctional cationic surfactants and their mechanism of action, as well as suggest their possible future applications as surface coating antiadhesives, fungicides and antibiofilm agents in medicine or industry.
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-88244-1
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