Hexamidine is an
antiseptic
An antiseptic (from Greek ἀντί ''anti'', "against" and σηπτικός ''sēptikos'', "putrefactive") is an antimicrobial substance or compound that is applied to living tissue/skin to reduce the possibility of infection, sepsis, or putre ...
and
disinfectant. Hexomedine is the trade name of a diisethionate solution (1/1.000) of hexamidine. Hexamidine is used primarily as its
diisethionate salt, which is more water-soluble than the dihydrochloride. The dihydrochloride was first synthesized and patented as a
trypanocide for
May & Baker in 1939. Its
amoebicidal properties emerged in the 1990s. The exact mechanism of its biocidal action is unknown, but presumed similar to
quaternary ammonium compounds, involving binding to the negatively charged
lipid membrane
The lipid bilayer (or phospholipid bilayer) is a thin polar membrane made of two layers of lipid molecules. These membranes are flat sheets that form a continuous barrier around all cells. The cell membranes of almost all organisms and many vir ...
s of pathogens. Hexamidine and its shorter congener,
propamidine, are used as antiseptics and preservatives in pharmaceuticals and cosmetics. They are particularly used for the topical treatment of acanthamoebiasis (
Acanthamoeba keratitis
''Acanthamoeba'' keratitis (AK) is a rare disease in which amoebae of the genus ''Acanthamoeba'' invade the clear portion of the front (cornea) of the eye. It affects roughly 100 people in the United States each year. ''Acanthamoeba'' are prot ...
).
References
Antiseptics
Amidines
Phenol ethers
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