biostudies-literatureYamamura HAdaptable and Seamless Technology Transfer Program through Target-Driven R and DJapan Society for the Promotion of Science509-518https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC6072522biostudies-literatureUnknown9(3)The emergence of drug-resistant bacteria has led to the high demand for new antibiotics. In this report, we investigated membrane-active antimicrobial β-cyclodextrins. These contain seven amino-modified alkyl groups on a molecule, which act as functional moieties to permeabilize bacterial cell membranes. The polyfunctionalization of cyclodextrins was achieved through a click reaction assisted by microwave irradiation. A survey using derivatives with systematically varied functionalities clarified the unique correlation of the antimicrobial activity of these compounds with their molecular structure and hydrophobicity/hydrophilicity balances. The optimum hydrophobicity for the compounds being membrane-active was specific to bacterial strains and animal cells; this led to specific compounds hMedChemCommMembrane-active antimicrobial poly(amino-modified alkyl) β-cyclodextrins synthesized <i>via</i> click reactions.PMC607252215K07857AS2711906TKato HYamamura HKatsu TTomita HTanimoto KNonaka MOkuno SMitsuhashi RMasuda KMiyagawa AfalseMembrane-active antimicrobial poly(amino-modified alkyl) β-cyclodextrins synthesized <i>via</i> click reactions.The emergence of drug-resistant bacteria has led to the high demand for new antibiotics. In this report, we investigated membrane-active antimicrobial β-cyclodextrins. These contain seven amino-modified alkyl groups on a molecule, which act as functional moieties to permeabilize bacterial cell membranes. The polyfunctionalization of cyclodextrins was achieved through a click reaction assisted by microwave irradiation. A survey using derivatives with systematically varied functionalities clarified the unique correlation of the antimicrobial activity of these compounds with their molecular structure and hydrophobicity/hydrophilicity balances. The optimum hydrophobicity for the compounds being membrane-active was specific to bacterial strains and animal cells; this led to specific compounds h2018-01-01T00:00:00Z2018 Mar2026-05-06T02:57:11.681Z2019-03-26T22:50:15ZS-EPMC60725223010894110.1039/c7md00592j