DEVELOPMENT OF COMPARTMENTALIZED ANTIBACTERIAL SYSTEMS BASED ON IMMOBILIZED ALLIINASE

摘要

Multi-drug resistant (MDR) bacteria are one of the most significant threats to modern society. Antibiotics, in the past so effective against broad spectra of infections, are nowadays omnipresent and their widespread availability, misuse and gradual accumulation over time in the environment is the main reason behind the sudden increase of bacterial resistance. However, it has been shown that some natural antibacterial systems are designed in such a way that effectively prevents the development of bacterial resistance. One of the most known examples of such natural self-defence system is garlic plant, where highly potent but unstable compound allicin is formed enzymatically from inactive precursor (alliin) only when and where the inner cellular structure is compromised (e.g. soil pathogens, rodents). A very short half-time of allicin is the key to garlic's success: bacteria do not have the necessary time to develop effective countermeasures, and therefore allicin remains ever-lasting natural bactericide for thousands of years compared to relatively stable antibiotics. In this study, we propose to employ encapsulation techniques (ionic cross-linking, spray drying) to develop polymer carrier where purified and stabilized enzyme (alliinase) and substrate (alliin) are physically separated in two different types of carriers. Additionally, we want to demonstrate the possibility to control the overall rate of enzymatic reaction and allicin generation via the cross-linking ratio (amount of cross-linker per polymer). Finally, the antibacterial effect of prepared carriers will be tested against common bacterial strains using the disc diffusion method and non-contact form of produced allicin in a volatile