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The Investigation of Water-Soluble Polyurethanes that Mimic Antimicrobial Peptides

Mankoci, Steven Gerald

Abstract Details

2018, Doctor of Philosophy, University of Akron, Polymer Science.
The emergence and increasing incidence of drug resistant strains of bacteria is a serious threat to human health. There is an urgent need for the development of new antimicrobial agents to combat bacterial infections that are different from the currently used small molecule drugs. Antimicrobial peptides, a broad family of peptides that are utilized by virtually every organism, are a promising source for new antimicrobial agents to fight pathogenic microorganisms. However, there are many limitations to the widespread use of these peptides, such as the cost of mass production and their rapid degradation in vivo by endogenous proteases. One viable way to overcome these limitations is through using synthetic mimics of these peptides. This work details the design of a new family of antimicrobial, water-soluble polyurethanes that were synthesized to mimic antimicrobial peptides using easily functionalized diols and the subsequent study of their in vitro antimicrobial properties. Studies were performed to determine the effects that a broad range of hydrophobic, uncharged polar, and charged polar pendant groups as well as the effects of molecular weight on the structure/property relationships of these antimicrobial polymers and how they impact antimicrobial efficacy, mammalian cell cytocompatibility, and mechanisms of action.
Abraham Joy, Dr. (Advisor)
Nita Sahai, Dr. (Committee Chair)
Hazel Barton, Dr. (Committee Member)
Li Jia, Dr. (Committee Member)
Michael Konopka, Dr. (Committee Member)
190 p.

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Mankoci, S. G. (2018). The Investigation of Water-Soluble Polyurethanes that Mimic Antimicrobial Peptides [Doctoral dissertation, University of Akron]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1524649965130039

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Mankoci, Steven. The Investigation of Water-Soluble Polyurethanes that Mimic Antimicrobial Peptides. 2018. University of Akron, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1524649965130039.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Mankoci, Steven. "The Investigation of Water-Soluble Polyurethanes that Mimic Antimicrobial Peptides." Doctoral dissertation, University of Akron, 2018. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1524649965130039

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)