Fig. 4: NHC-assisted translocation across bacterial membrane mimics. | Nature Communications

Fig. 4: NHC-assisted translocation across bacterial membrane mimics.

From: Carbene formation as a mechanism for efficient intracellular uptake of cationic antimicrobial carbon acid polymers

Fig. 4

A–C Studies with hexane-water model system (n = 3): A 2-phase system to study translocation of FITC-OIM1-6-CH into bacterial bilayer interior mimic (bottom phase: PBS; top phase: hexane with (i) PC, (ii) PG). Using A(ii), B comparison of H-D exchange of OIM1-6-CH (1) and translocation percent of FITC-OIM1-6-CH to hexane. C FITC-OIMs translocation percent to hexane at pH 7.4 and pH 6.6. Two-way Anova: ****p < 0.0001, **p < 0.0021, *p < 0.0331. ns (not significant) p > 0.05. Exact p values are provided in Source Data. Uptake of OIMs into vesicles (PC:PG = 8:2): D liposome (membrane + core) or core only; and E, F giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) in the absence or presence of membrane potential of – 95 mV (n = 30). G Proposed mechanism of NHC-assisted translocation across bacterial membrane. Created in BioRender. Chan, M. (2025) https://BioRender.com/t1ibxig. Data are presented as the mean of independent replicates ± standard deviation.

Back to article page