Polymyxin B Sulfate Powder actively disrupts cell membrane permeability by binding to it. Bacteria lacking sensitivity to Polymyxin B Sulfate possess cell walls that block its access to the cell membrane. This antibiotic lacks efficacy against gram-positive bacteria and Polymyxin B sulfate powder binds to the cell membrane thereby removing its permeability.
Bacteria that are not sensitive to polymyxin B sulfate have a cell wall that prevents polymyxin from reaching the cell membrane. This antibiotic does not affect the gram-positive bacteria, nor does it affect anaerobes. It does affect the gram-negative bacteria including the non-fermentative and Enterobacteriaceae strains.
The mechanism of action of this antibiotic is that, polymyxin B sulfate binds to the lipopolysaccharides in the outer membrane of gram-negative bacteria. This binding destroys the cell membrane integrity leads to leakage of intracellular content out and death of bacteria.
In clinical practice, polymyxin B sulfate is usually used as the last resort against multidrug-resistant infections. This antibiotic has activity against nosocomial infections caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumannii.
In summary, polymyxin B sulfate powder is capable of actively destroying the integrity of the cell wall and effective against multidrug-resistant gram-negative bacteria. Its essential role as a last-line treatment also shows its importance in the clinical applications, especially with infections for which other antibiotics are not effective.
Cat. Number | AS-2034 |
CAS Number | 1405-20-5 |
MDL Number | MFCD00131991 |
Pubchem | 310279122 |
Molecular Weight | 1301.56 g/mol |
Molecular Formula | C56H98N16O13.H2SO4 |
Storage Temperature | +4 °C |
Form and Color | Powder / White to off-white |
Assay | ≥ 6000 IU/mg |
Heavy Metals | ≤ 20 ppm |
Specific Optical Rotation [α]D | -90 to -78 |
FT-IR Spectrum | Corresponds to reference spectrum |
Loss on Drying | ≤ 7% |
pH Value | 5 – 7.5 |
Synonym | Mastimyxin / Aerosporin |