A Novel Dicationic Boron Dipyrromethene-based Photosensitizer for Antimicrobial Photodynamic Therapy against Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus

Title:A Novel Dicationic Boron Dipyrromethene-based Photosensitizer for Antimicrobial Photodynamic Therapy against Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus

Volume: 28 Issue: 21

Author(s): Priyanga Dharmaratne, Ligang Yu, Roy Chi-Hang Wong, Ben Chun-Lap Chan, Kit-Man Lau, Baiyan Wang, Clara Bik San Lau, Kwok-Pui Fung, Dennis Kee-Pui Ng and Margaret Ip*

Affiliation:

• Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, N.T.,Hong Kong

Keywords: Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus, antimicrobial photodynamic therapy, boron dipyrromethene, murine wound infection model, photosensitizer, antibacterial potency.

Abstract:

Background: We report herein the synthesis of a novel dicationic boron dipyrromethene derivative (compound 3) which is symmetrically substituted with two trimethylammonium styryl groups.

Methods: The antibacterial photodynamic activity of compound 3 was determined against sixteen methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains, including four ATCC type strains (ATCC 43300, ATCC BAA-42, ATCC BAA-43, and ATCC BAA-44), two mutant strains [AAC(6’)-APH(2”) and RN4220/pUL5054], and ten nonduplicate clinical strains of hospital- and community-associated MRSA. Upon light irradiation, the minimum bactericidal concentrations of compound 3 were in the range of 1.56-50 μM against all the sixteen MRSA strains. Interestingly, compound 3 was not only more active than an analogue in which the ammonium groups are not directly connected to the n-conjugated system (compound 4), but also showed significantly higher (p < 0.05) antibacterial potency than the clinically approved photosensitizer methylene blue. The skin irritation of compound 3 during topical application was tested on human 3-D skin constructs and proven to be non-irritant in vivo at concentrations below 1.250 mM. In the murine MRSA infected wound study, the colony forming unit reduction of compound 3 + PDT group showed significantly (p < 0.05) higher value (>2.5 log₁₀) compared to other test groups except for the positive control.

Conclusion: In conclusion, the present study provides a scientific basis for future development of compound 3 as a potent photosensitizer for photodynamic therapy for MRSA wound infection.

Cite this article as:

Dharmaratne Priyanga , Yu Ligang , Wong Chi-Hang Roy , Chan Chun-Lap Ben , Lau Kit-Man , Wang Baiyan , Lau Bik San Clara , Fung Kwok-Pui , Ng Kee-Pui Dennis and Ip Margaret*, A Novel Dicationic Boron Dipyrromethene-based Photosensitizer for Antimicrobial Photodynamic Therapy against Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Current Medicinal Chemistry 2021; 28 (21) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/0929867328666201208095105