%0 Journal Article %A Tian, Jingxiao %A Zhang, Jiangyan %A Yang, Jiangtao %A Du, Lingyun %A Geng, Hao %A Cheng, Yongqiang %D 2017 %T Conjugated Polymers Act Synergistically with Antibiotics to Combat Bacterial Drug Resistance %U https://acs.figshare.com/articles/journal_contribution/Conjugated_Polymers_Act_Synergistically_with_Antibiotics_to_Combat_Bacterial_Drug_Resistance/5044858 %R 10.1021/acsami.7b03906.s001 %2 https://acs.figshare.com/ndownloader/files/8535418 %K antibiotic %K CCP %K combination therapy method %K drug-resistant bacteria %K combination therapy strategy %K Conjugated Polymers Act Synergistically %X The emergence of drug-resistant bacteria severely challenges the antimicrobial agents and antibacterial strategy. Here, we demonstrate a novel, simple, and highly efficient combination therapy strategy by direct combinations of cationic conjugated polymers (CCPs) with polypeptide antibiotics against Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria based on a synergistic antibacterial effect. The combination therapy method enhances the antibacterial efficacy with a significantly reduced antibiotic dosage. Also, the highly efficient and synergistic killing of drug-resistant bacteria is realized. Using combinations of CCPs and antibiotics to show increased antibacterial activity, this strategy will provide a much wider scope of the discovery of efficient antibacterial systems than that of antibiotic–antibiotic combinations. The proposed combination therapy method provides a universal and powerful platform for the treatment of pathogens, in particular, the drug-resistant bacteria, and also opens a new way for the development of efficient antibacterial systems. %I ACS Publications