Interaction of quaternary ammonium ionic liquids and bacterial cell membrane

Abstract

The ionic liquids (ILs) still remain in interest of the many of scientific and industrial laboratories. They exhibit unique properties due to both ionic character and low melting point. They are characterized by nonflammability, high polarity and ionic conductivity (Markiewicz et al., 2014; Pernak et al., 2006). ILs also poses antimicrobial properties, e.g. growth inhibition, cytoand genotoxicity. However, the studies that try to characterize Ils mostly are mechanistic and do not bring the answer how ionic liquids interacts with cell composites, e.g. proteins or cell membrane. It is very important because such compounds might influence of cell structures or the cell itself. Additionally, it turned out, that the quaternary ammonium salts can modify the electrokinetic potential of Gram-negative bacterial outer membrane. Thus, the question about possibility to adapt bacterial cells arises (Borkowski et al., 2016; Pernak, Sobaszkiewicz, & Mirska, 2003).