Antibacterial activities of fluorescent nano assembled triphenylamine phosphonium ionic liquids

Staphylococcus aureus, a Gram positive coccal bacterium is a major cause of nosocomial infection. We report the synthesis of new triphenylamine phosphonium ionic liquids which are able to self-assemble into multiwall nanoassemblies and to reveal a strong bactericidal activity (MIC = 0.5 mg/L) for Gram positive bacteria (including resistant strains) comparable to that of standard antibiotics. Time kill, metabolism and fluorescence confocal microscopy studies show a quasi-instantaneously penetration of the nanoassemblies inside the bacteria resulting of a rapid blocking (30 min) of their proliferation. As confirmed by rezasurin reduction monitoring, these compounds strongly affect the bacterial metabolism and a Gram positive versus Gram negative selectivity is clearly observed. These fluorescent phosphonium ionic liquid might constitute a useful tool for both translocation studies and to tackle infectious diseases related to the field of implantology. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.