Mannose conjugated polymer binding in the p. Aeruginosa biofilm

Statement of Purpose: Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) is the most common chronic infection in cystic fibrosis patients and is the leading cause of respiratory failure and death in this population. The initial P. a infection occurs with nonmucoid strains, which eventually transition to a mucoid phenotype. The mucoid phenotype is associated with deterioration in lung function and is known to assist in immune evasion and antibiotic resistance^1,2. Current treatment for acute and chronic P. aeruginosa infections require twice daily administrations of antibiotics such as inhalable tobramycin for 28 days, with repeated treatment cycles as infection recurs. Development of a biomaterial with increased persistence at the site of P. aeruginosa infections could reduce treatment burden, increase patient quality of life, and reduce the incidence of antibiotic resistance. In this study we describe the specific and prolonged binding of glycosylated pro-drug polymers to P. aeruginosa biofilms.