Rational modification of lactams for improved efficacy in home care applications
Lead Participant:
UNILEVER U.K. CENTRAL RESOURCES LIMITED
Abstract
Beyond removal of dirt, home and personal care formulations such as laundry detergents, kitchen and bathroom
cleaners aim to deliver health and hygiene benefits in line with Unilever’s Sustainable Living Plan. These benefits
are currently delivered by chemical antimicrobials which have a limited efficacy on established biofilms. The
screening of a library of over 600 furanone-derived lactams has revealed variants that disrupt quorum sensing
and biofilm growth in model environments. This feasibility project aims to enhance the bioavailability and
efficacy of lactams in home care applications via rational modification of existing principal analogues. Possible
routes of derivatisation will range from introduction of charged groups for solubility, enhancing the 'active site'
functionality, and grafting complex polymeric lactam-containing materials for targeted delivery to surfaces and
biofilms. A focused library of around 10 novel analogues will be constructed, synthesised, and their anti-biofilm
efficacy will be explored against real biofilms on a range of home and industrial surfaces. The platform
opportunity of improved lactams in home care will be assessed.
cleaners aim to deliver health and hygiene benefits in line with Unilever’s Sustainable Living Plan. These benefits
are currently delivered by chemical antimicrobials which have a limited efficacy on established biofilms. The
screening of a library of over 600 furanone-derived lactams has revealed variants that disrupt quorum sensing
and biofilm growth in model environments. This feasibility project aims to enhance the bioavailability and
efficacy of lactams in home care applications via rational modification of existing principal analogues. Possible
routes of derivatisation will range from introduction of charged groups for solubility, enhancing the 'active site'
functionality, and grafting complex polymeric lactam-containing materials for targeted delivery to surfaces and
biofilms. A focused library of around 10 novel analogues will be constructed, synthesised, and their anti-biofilm
efficacy will be explored against real biofilms on a range of home and industrial surfaces. The platform
opportunity of improved lactams in home care will be assessed.
Lead Participant | Project Cost | Grant Offer |
---|---|---|
UNILEVER U.K. CENTRAL RESOURCES LIMITED | £49,938 | £ 24,969 |
  | ||
Participant |
||
MANCHESTER METROPOLITAN UNIVERSITY | £49,836 |
People |
ORCID iD |
Panos Kotsakis (Project Manager) |