Abstract
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Use of biofilm dispersing NO-donor compounds in combination with antibiotics has emerged as a promising new strategy for treating drug-resistant bacterial biofilm infections. This paper details the synthesis and preliminary evaluation of six cephalosporin-3′-diazeniumdiolates as biofilm-targeted NO-donor prodrugs. Each of the compounds is shown to selectively release NO following reaction with the bacteria-specific enzyme β-lactamase and to trigger dispersion of Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms in vitro.