Methods and compositions for disrupting biofilm utilizing chitosan-derivative compounds

Abstract

Described herein are methods of disrupting (e.g., reducing the viscosity of, or dissolving) a preformed biofilm in a subject, the method comprising: administering to the subject an effective amount of a composition comprising a soluble chitosan or derivatized chitosan wherein the soluble chitosan or deritvatized chitosan when administered contacts the preformed biofilm, thereby disrupting (e.g., reducing the viscosity of, or dissolving) the preformed biofilm.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of disrupting (e.g., reducing the viscosity of, or dissolving) a preformed biofilm in a subject, the method comprising:
 administering to the subject an effective amount of a composition comprising a soluble derivatized chitosan wherein the soluble derivatized chitosan when administered contacts the preformed biofilm, thereby disrupting (e.g., reducing the viscosity of, or dissolving) the preformed biofilm;   
       wherein the derivatized chitosan comprises a chitosan of the following formula (I): 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         wherein: 
         n is an integer between 20 and 6000; and 
         each R 1  is independently selected for each occurrence from hydrogen, acetyl, and a group of formula (II): 
       
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         or R 1 , when taken together with the nitrogen to which it is attached, forms a guanidine moiety, 
         wherein R 2  is hydrogen or amino; and 
         R 3  is amino, guanidino, C 1 -C 6  alkyl substituted with an amino or guanidino moiety, or a natural or unnatural amino acid side chain, 
         wherein at least 25% of R 1  substituents are H, at least 1% of R 1  substituents are acetyl, and at least 2% of R 1  substituents are a group of formula (II).