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Short Synthetic α‐Helical‐Forming Peptide Amphiphiles for Fungal Keratitis Treatment In Vivo
Author(s) -
Wu Hong,
Liu Shaoqiong,
Wiradharma Nikken,
Ong Zhan Yuin,
Li Yan,
Yang Yi Yan,
Ying Jackie Y.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
advanced healthcare materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.288
H-Index - 90
eISSN - 2192-2659
pISSN - 2192-2640
DOI - 10.1002/adhm.201600777
Subject(s) - candida albicans , biofilm , in vivo , microbiology and biotechnology , in vitro , fungal keratitis , peptide , corpus albicans , keratitis , antimicrobial , antifungal , chemistry , biology , bacteria , biochemistry , genetics
The emergence of fungal keratitis is on the rise globally. However, current antifungal therapeutics are ineffective in severe keratomycosis. Previously reported α‐helical peptides comprising 8–14 amino acids demonstrate broad‐spectrum antimicrobial activity both in vitro and in vivo. Here, α‐helical peptides of the optimized sequences are investigated for antifungal biofilm in vitro and in vivo using a fungal biofilm‐caused mouse keratitis model. The peptides with the optimal composition demonstrate higher α‐helical propensity and improve antifungal activity in dispersing Candida albicans biofilm in vitro. Moreover, the optimized α‐helical peptides are not only effective in treating C. albicans biofilm‐induced keratitis in mice, they are also nontoxic to the mice eyes. These peptides have the potential to be developed as antifungal agents for the treatment of C. albicans biofilm‐caused keratitis.