Control of Bacterial Aggregation by Thermoresponsive Glycopolymers

Abstract

Thermoresponsive polymers with pendant glucose functionality form aggregates with bacterial cells that can be assembled/disassembled reversibly through temperature cycling. The polymers are chain extended at temperatures below 40 °C and display glucose moieties to solution, whereas above this temperature the globular state of the polymer "hides" the sugar groups. The specificity and reversibility of the glucose display is demonstrated chemically via a boronic acid−alizarin coupled assay and through cell aggregation assays utilizing bacteria with and without fimH sugar recognition sites.