IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,594,289
Granted Patent B2
US 12,594,289 · App. 18/448,538 · Granted Apr 7, 2026

Potentiation of antibiotic effect

Inventors: Brian Conlon (Durham, NC); Sarah Conlon (Durham, NC); Lauren Radlinski (Carrboro, NC)
Assignee: The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
A61K31/702A61K47/26A61P31/04
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,594,289
App. No.
18/448,538
Granted
Apr 7, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present invention relates to compositions, kits and methods using combinations of surfactants or cell wall-hydrolyzing enzymes with antibiotics to potentiate the antibiotic effect against bacterial infections. In some embodiments, the surfactant is a pore-forming biosurfactant such as rhamnolipids and the antibiotic is an aminoglycoside antibiotic such as tobramycin.

Claims (33)

1 . A method of treating a bacterial infection comprising a biofilm in a subject in need thereof, comprising administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of a surfactant and at least one of an aminoglycoside antibiotic or vancomycin, wherein:

(a) the surfactant consists of palmitoleic acid;

(b) the aminoglycoside antibiotic comprises streptomycin, kanamycin A, amikacin, dibekacin, sisomicin, netilmicin, neomycin B, neomycin C, neomycin E, or any combination thereof;

(c) the surfactant synergizes with the aminoglycoside antibiotic or vancomycin to decrease the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the aminoglycoside antibiotic or vancomycin;

wherein the bacterial infection comprising a biofilm is caused by gram-positive bacteria; and

wherein the bacterial infection comprising a biofilm is treated.

2 . A method of reducing the risk of recurrence of a bacterial infection in a subject in need thereof, comprising administering to the subject having a bacterial infection comprising a biofilm a therapeutically effective amount of a surfactant and at least one of an aminoglycoside antibiotic or vancomycin, wherein:

(a) the surfactant consists of palmitoleic acid;

(b) the aminoglycoside antibiotic comprises streptomycin, kanamycin A, amikacin, dibekacin, sisomicin, netilmicin, neomycin B, neomycin C, neomycin E, or any combination thereof;

(c) the surfactant synergizes with the aminoglycoside antibiotic or vancomycin to decrease the MIC of the aminoglycoside antibiotic or vancomycin;

wherein the bacterial infection comprising a biofilm is caused by a gram-positive bacteria; and

wherein the risk of recurrence of a bacterial infection is reduced.

3 . A method of disrupting a biofilm, comprising contacting the biofilm with an effective amount of a surfactant and at least one of an aminoglycoside antibiotic or vancomycin, wherein:

(a) the surfactant consists of palmitoleic acid;

(b) the aminoglycoside antibiotic comprises streptomycin, kanamycin A, amikacin, dibekacin, sisomicin, netilmicin, neomycin B, neomycin C, neomycin E, or any combination thereof;

(c) the surfactant synergizes with the aminoglycoside antibiotic or vancomycin to decrease the MIC of the aminoglycoside antibiotic or vancomycin;

wherein the biofilm is from a gram-positive bacteria; and

wherein the biofilm is disrupted.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the bacteria is antibiotic resistant or antibiotic tolerant.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the bacteria is Staphylococcus aureus.

6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the bacteria is methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the surfactant and the aminoglycoside antibiotic or vancomycin are administered simultaneously.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the surfactant and the aminoglycoside antibiotic or vancomycin are administered sequentially.

9 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the bacteria is antibiotic resistant or antibiotic tolerant.

10 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the bacteria is Staphylococcus aureus.

11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the bacteria is methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

12 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the surfactant and the aminoglycoside antibiotic or vancomycin are administered simultaneously.

13 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the surfactant and the aminoglycoside antibiotic or vancomycin are administered sequentially.

14 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the bacteria is antibiotic resistant or antibiotic tolerant.

15 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the bacteria is Staphylococcus aureus.

16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the bacteria is methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

17 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the surfactant and the aminoglycoside antibiotic or vancomycin are administered simultaneously.

18 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the surfactant and the aminoglycoside antibiotic or vancomycin are administered sequentially.

Assignments (1)
CONFIRMATORY LICENSE Recorded Jan 17, 2024
From: UNIV OF NORTH CAROLINA CHAPEL HILL
To: NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH (NIH), U.S. DEPT. OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES (DHHS), U.S. GOVERNMENT
Reel/Frame 066339/0927 →
Continuity (3)
Division 16630174
Provisional Application 62534450 · Jul 19, 2017
Related Publication 20230381212A1 · Nov 30, 2023
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