The synthesis and study of the biological and colloidal properties of bolaamphiphiles

Author

Louis M. Damiano, James Madison UniversityFollow

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.

Date of Graduation

Spring 2015

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Science (BS)

Department

Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry

Advisor(s)

Kevin L. Caran

Abstract

Over the past decade, antibiotic resistant bacteria have caused infections in patients throughout the world.^[1] The rise in antibiotic resistance is primarily due to the misuse and overuse of antibiotics. ^[1] To counter the increase in antibiotic resistance, infection control mechanisms have been aggressively researched in recent years. In particular, drug delivery has become a focal point to fight antibiotic resistant infections.^[2] Amphiphiles have a wide range of applications in the clinical setting, including the ability to inhibit bacterial transference because of their bactericidal activity. ^[3] Bolaamphiphiles are a subclass of amphiphiles that possess two or more hydrophilic heads on either side of hydrophobic linker (typically a hydrocarbon chain). Altering the length of the hydrophobic linker or structure of hydrophilic heads can change their biological and colloidal properties. This study includes the synthesis as well as the colloidal and biological study of a novel hexacationic bolaamphiphile with three cationic groups on each end of an intervening twelve carbon tail. The critical micelle concentration (CMC) and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) have been determined. In addition preliminary studies on interactions between the hexacationic bolaamphiphile and a hexaanionic salt will be presented.

Recommended Citation

Damiano, Louis M., "The synthesis and study of the biological and colloidal properties of bolaamphiphiles" (2015). Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019. 55.
https://commons.lib.jmu.edu/honors201019/55