Identification of New Nitric Oxide-Donating Peptides with Dual Biofilm Eradication and Antibacterial Activities for Intervention of Device-Related Infections

Implantable medical device-related infections with biofilms have become a significant challenge in clinics. Based on the potential bacteria biofilm dispersing effect of nitric oxide (NO) and the unique antibacterial activity of antimicrobial peptides (AMP), we synthesized five peptides and selected the most potent one to conjugate its N-terminal with a furoxan moiety to offer a hitherto unknown NO-donating antimicrobial peptide (FOTyr-AMP), which exhibited Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli biofilm dispersion and eradication, and potent antibacterial activities in vitro. In an implanted biofilm infection mice model, topical subcutaneous injection of FOTyr-AMP allowed synergetic eradication of bacterial biofilms and potent antibacterial activity, superior to the antibiotic cephalosporin C. Given the low hemolysis effect, little influence on the blood pressure, and potent in vivo efficacy of FOTyr-AMP, it is clear that subcutaneous administration of FOTyr-AMP could be a promising approach for the intervention of medical device-related biofilm infections with desirable safety.