biostudies-literatureYang PNational Institute of Allergy and Infectious DiseasesNIAID NIH HHS7237-7246https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC8551062biostudies-literatureUnknown9(21)This paper reports antimicrobial metallopolymers containing biodegradable polycaprolactone as the backbone with boronic acid and cobaltocenium as the side chain. While boronic acid promotes interactions with bacterial cells <i>via</i> boronolectin with lipopolysaccharides, cationic cobaltocenium facilitates the unique complexation with anionic β-lactam antibiotics. The synergistic interactions in these metallopolymer-antibiotic bioconjugates were evidenced by re-sensitized efficacy of penicillin-G against four different Gram-negative bacteria (<i>E. coli</i>, <i>P. vulgaris</i>, <i>P. aeruginosa</i> and <i>K. pneumoniae</i>). The degradability of the polyester backbone was validated through tests under physiological pH (7.4) and acidic pH (5.5) or under enzymatic conditions. These metallopBiomaterials scienceBiodegradable polycaprolactone metallopolymer-antibiotic bioconjugates containing phenylboronic acid and cobaltocenium for antimicrobial application.PMC8551062R01 AI120987R01AI120987Yang XBam MKurnaz LBYang PTang CNagarkatti MLuo YDecho AWfalseBiodegradable polycaprolactone metallopolymer-antibiotic bioconjugates containing phenylboronic acid and cobaltocenium for antimicrobial application.This paper reports antimicrobial metallopolymers containing biodegradable polycaprolactone as the backbone with boronic acid and cobaltocenium as the side chain. While boronic acid promotes interactions with bacterial cells <i>via</i> boronolectin with lipopolysaccharides, cationic cobaltocenium facilitates the unique complexation with anionic β-lactam antibiotics. The synergistic interactions in these metallopolymer-antibiotic bioconjugates were evidenced by re-sensitized efficacy of penicillin-G against four different Gram-negative bacteria (<i>E. coli</i>, <i>P. vulgaris</i>, <i>P. aeruginosa</i> and <i>K. pneumoniae</i>). The degradability of the polyester backbone was validated through tests under physiological pH (7.4) and acidic pH (5.5) or under enzymatic conditions. These metallop2021-01-01T00:00:00Z2021 Oct2025-04-19T08:05:29.599Z2025-04-19T08:05:29.599ZS-EPMC85510623459617410.1039/d1bm00970b