Phospholipid membranes with antibacterial activity

The natural product squalamine and a model compound, both containing oligoammonium as well as sulfonate substituents, show antibacterial activity. They constitute ionophores, or possibly ion pore formers, and have been found to combine preferably with negatively charged phospholipid membranes of vesicles as compared to electroneutral ones (Scheme 3.5.2) (Deng et al., 1996 Fu-nasaki et al., 1990 Merritt et al., 1998). 

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