Abstract: A bacitracin-alginate oligomer conjugate including a bacitracin-class antibiotic connected covalently to at least one alginate oligomer via a direct covalent bond or a covalent molecular linker, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate, hydrate, diastereoisomer, tautomer, enantiomer or active metabolite thereof. Also provided are methods for the preparation of the conjugate, pharmaceutical compositions comprising the conjugate and the use thereof in a method for the treatment or prevention of a bacterial infection in a subject with, suspected to have, or at risk of, a bacterial infection.

Abstract: A method for translocating a cationic micro/nanoparticle across a mucus layer, the method including (a) contacting the mucus layer with at least one alginate oligomer, the alginate oligomer having at least 70% mannuronate residues, together with the cationic micro/nanoparticle; or (b)(i) contacting the cationic micro/nanoparticle with an alginate oligomer having at least 70% mannuronate residues thereby forming a micro/nanoparticle carrying the alginate oligomer, and (b)(ii) contacting the mucus layer with the micro/nanoparticle prepared in step (b)(i).

Abstract: A method is for the treatment of a condition in a human patient arising from or associated with a defective cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) ion channel and/or abnormal mucus which is attached to underlying epithelium. The method includes administering an alginate oligomer, in which at least 30% of the monomer residues of the alginate oligomer are G residues, to the patient in an amount sufficient to achieve a local concentration of the alginate oligomer of 1 to 6% w/v at at least part of a mucosal surface with a defective CFTR ion channel and/or the abnormal mucus in the patient.