Metal Complexes-A Promising Approach to Target Biofilm Associated Infections

• Published in: Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Switzerland), 2022-01, Vol.27 (3), p.758
• Main Authors: Olar, Rodica, Badea, Mihaela, Chifiriuc, Mariana Carmen
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; anti-biofilm activity; Anti-Infective Agents - chemistry; Anti-Infective Agents - pharmacology; Anti-Infective Agents - therapeutic use; Antibiotics; Antiinfectives and antibacterials; Antimicrobial agents; Bacterial infections; Biocompatible Materials; Biofilms; Biofilms - drug effects; Biomaterials; Biomedical materials; Brownian motion; Catheters; Chelation; Communication; complex; Coordination Complexes - chemistry; Coordination Complexes - pharmacology; Coordination Complexes - therapeutic use; Dental implants; Enzymes; Extracellular Polymeric Substance Matrix - drug effects; Extracellular Polymeric Substance Matrix - metabolism; extracellular polymeric substances; Extracellular polymers; Gene expression; Humans; Imines; Immune system; Immunological tolerance; Infections; Infections - drug therapy; Manganese; mechanism of action; Medical equipment; Metal complexes; metallic ion; Microbial activity; microbial target; Microorganisms; Phenotypes; Physiology; Prostheses; Review; Schiff Bases
• ISSN: 1420-3049; 1420-3049
• DOI: 10.3390/molecules27030758

Microbial biofilms are represented by sessile microbial communities with modified gene expression and phenotype, adhered to a surface and embedded in a matrix of self-produced extracellular polymeric substances (EPS). Microbial biofilms can develop on both prosthetic devices and tissues, generating chronic and persistent infections that cannot be eradicated with classical organic-based antimicrobials, because of their increased tolerance to antimicrobials and the host immune system. Several complexes based mostly on 3D ions have shown promising potential for fighting biofilm-associated infections, due to their large spectrum antimicrobial and anti-biofilm activity. The literature usually reports species containing Mn(II), Ni(II), Co(II), Cu(II) or Zn(II) and a large variety of multidentate ligands with chelating properties such as antibiotics, Schiff bases, biguanides, N-based macrocyclic and fused rings derivatives. This review presents the progress in the development of such species and their anti-biofilm activity, as well as the contribution of biomaterials science to incorporate these complexes in composite platforms for reducing the negative impact of medical biofilms.