Ultra selective and high-capacity dummy template molecular imprinted polymer to control quorum sensing and biofilm formation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa

• Published in: Analytica chimica acta 2022-03, Vol.1199, p.339574-339574, Article 339574
• Main Authors: Tajani, Amineh Sadat, Soheili, Vahid, Moosavi, Fatemeh, Ghodsi, Razieh, Alizadeh, Taher, Fazly Bazzaz, Bibi Sedigheh
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Auto-inducer capturing; Biofilm inhibition; Biofilms; Dummy template; Molecular imprinted polymer; Molecular Imprinting - methods; Molecular modeling; Polymers - chemistry; Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Pseudomonas quinolone signal molecule; Quorum Sensing
• ISSN: 0003-2670; 1873-4324
• DOI: 10.1016/j.aca.2022.339574

Here a highly selective molecular imprinting polymer was developed to attenuate biofilm formation of the multidrug-resistant pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa by disrupting the intermolecular signaling system. Firstly, a dummy template molecular imprinting polymer (MIP) was rationally designed through molecular modeling to capture 2-heptyl-3-hydroxy-4-quinolone (Pseudomonas quinolone signal). This multifunctional signaling molecule interferes with the pathogenicity of P. aeruginosa as an auto-inducer. Then, the synthesized MIP and the non-imprinted polymer (NIP) as reference polymer were evaluated for their binding capacity and biofilm inhibition. The results indicated a significant difference in biofilm inhibition (∼56%) between imprinted (∼67%) and non-imprinted (∼11%) polymer, which is an impressive level, especially for the treatment of various surfaces affected by P. aeruginosa. These results open a new window in the special biological application of MIPs as a promising candidate to reduce concerns in clinical or industrial issues by preventing microbial infections. [Display omitted] •Biofilms are involved in many human microbial infections and industrial contaminations.•The most efficient strategy to disrupt the biofilm structure is inhibiting bacterial attachment through QS intervention.•pqs pathway of P. aeruginosa QS network, utilizes PQS and HHQ as auto-inducers, plays a critical role in the pathogenicity.•A novel rational designed MIP was synthesized to capture PQS and prevent bacterial communication and biofilm formation.•The results showed a significant biofilm inhibition (∼ 67%), an impressive level to treat surfaces affected by P. aeruginosa.