Pinazo Gassol, AuroraPons Pons, RamonMarqués Villavecchia, Ana M.Farfán Sellarés, MaribelSilva, Anderson daPérez Muñoz, Lourdes2021-02-122021-02-122020-09-011999-4923https://hdl.handle.net/2445/173921Their stability and low cost make catanionic vesicles suitable for application as drug delivery systems. In this work we prepared catanionic vesicles using biocompatible surfactants: two cationic arginine-based surfactants (the monocatenary Nα-lauroyl-arginine methyl ester LAM and the gemini Nα,Nϖ-bis(Nα-lauroylarginine) α, ϖ-propylendiamide C3(CA)2) and three anionic amphiphiles (the single chain sodium dodecanoate, sodium myristate, and the double chain 8-SH). The critical aggregation concentration, colloidal stability, size, and charge density of these systems were comprehensively studied for the first time. These catanionic vesicles, which form spontaneously after mixing two aqueous solutions of oppositely charged surfactants, exhibited a monodisperse population of medium-size aggregates and good stability. The antimicrobial and hemolytic activity of the vesicles can be modulated by changing the cationic/anionic surfactant ratio. Vesicles with a positive charge efficiently killed Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria as well as yeasts; the antibacterial activity declined with the decrease of the cationic charge density. The catanionic systems also effectively eradicated MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms. Interestingly, the incorporation of cholesterol in the catanionic mixtures improved the stability of these colloidal systems and considerably reduced their cytotoxicity without affecting their antimicrobial activity. Additionally, these catanionic vesicles showed good DNA affinity. Their antimicrobial efficiency and low hemolytic activity render these catanionic vesicles very promising candidates for biomedical applicationsapplication/pdfengcc-by (c) Pinazo Gassol, Aurora et al., 2020http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/esAminoàcidsAgents tensioactiusMicrobiologia farmacèuticaAmino acidsSurface active agentsPharmaceutical microbiologyinfo:eu-repo/semantics/article7054642021-02-12info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess32916921