Tethering antimicrobial peptides onto chitosan: Optimization of azide-alkyne "click" reaction conditions.

Antimicrobial peptides (AMP) are promising alternatives to classical antibiotics, due to their high specificity and potency at low concentrations, and low propensity to elicit pathogen resistance. Immobilization of AMP onto biomaterials is an emergent field of research, towards creation of novel antimicrobial materials able to avoid formation of biofilms on the surfaces of medical devices. Herein, we report the chemical route towards one such material, where chitosan was used as biocompatible carrier for the covalent grafting of Dhvar-5, a well-known potent AMP, via the chemoselective ("click") Cu(I)-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC).

Dhvar5 antimicrobial peptide (AMP) chemoselective covalent immobilization results on higher antiadherence effect than simple physical adsorption.

Bacterial colonization and subsequent biofilm formation is still one of the major problems associated with medical devices. Antimicrobial peptides (AMP) immobilization onto biomaterials surface is a promising strategy to avoid bacterial colonization. However, a correct peptide orientation and exposure from the surface is essential to maintain AMP antimicrobial activity.