Development of phenyllactic acid ionic liquids and evaluation of cytotoxicity to human cervical epithelial cells

Phoebe Crossley, Yogesh Sutar, Irina Tsoy, Srushti Mukkirwar, Paweł Łaniewski, Melissa M. Herbst-Kralovetz, Abhijit A. Date

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

1 Citation (SciVal)

Abstract

Phenyllactic acid (PLA), is a naturally produced, broad-spectrum antimicrobial compound with activity against bacteria and fungi. PLA can be produced by a variety of lactic acid bacteria, including vaginal Lactobacillus species, which are healthy constituents of the vaginal microbiome with a protective role against invading pathogenic bacteria and/or fungi. Additionally, PLA has been shown to exhibit anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties, overall indicating its therapeutic potential as an intravaginally delivered compound for modulation of the vaginal microbiome. However, PLA has low kinetic solubility in water. Hence, strategies to improve the solubility of PLA are necessary to facilitate its intravaginal delivery. Using biocompatible cations, choline and carnitine, we successfully transformed both d- and l-enantiomers of crystalline PLA into amorphous low-melting ionic liquids (ILs) with high water solubility. We further evaluated the in vitro cytotoxicity of PLA ILs to human cervical epithelial cells. Microscopic visualisation of cellular morphology using crystal violet staining and MTT cell proliferation assay revealed that PLA ILs result in minimal morphological changes and low cytotoxicity to human cervical epithelial cells. Overall, we successfully demonstrated that transforming PLA into ILs efficiently enhances its solubility in water and these formulations are not toxic to human epithelial cells. This investigation lays the groundwork for future testing of PLA ILs for their antimicrobial properties and metabolic activity within the cervicovaginal microenvironment.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)16083-16092
Number of pages10
JournalRSC Advances
Volume14
Issue number23
Early online date17 May 2024
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 31 Dec 2024
Externally publishedYes

Funding

A. A. D. would like to acknowledge support from R. K. Coit College of Pharmacy Startup Fund and NIAID grant (R21AI176907). M. M. H.-K. would like to acknowledge the UA COM-Phoenix Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology for support for P. C., and P. L. was supported by the Guiding U54 Investigator Development to Sustainability (GUiDeS) program under the award for the Partnership of Native American Cancer Prevention funded by the National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health (U54CA143924).

FundersFunder number
National Cancer Institute
UA COM-Phoenix Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious DiseasesR21AI176907
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
National Institutes of HealthU54CA143924
National Institutes of Health

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • General Chemistry
    • General Chemical Engineering

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