Confronting the Threat: Designing Highly Effective bis-Benzimidazolium Agents to Overcome Biofilm Persistence and Antimicrobial Resistance

Abstract

The objective of this study is to take the initial steps toward developing novel antibiotics to counteract the escalating problem of antimicrobial and bacterial persistence, particularly in relation to biofilms. Our approach involves emulating the structural characteristics of cationic antimicrobial peptides. To circumvent resistance development, we have designed a library of bis-benzimidazolium salts that selectively target the microbial membranes in a nonspecific manner. To explore their structure–activity relationship, we conducted experiments using these compounds on various pathogens known for their resistance to conventional antibiotics, including Gram-positive methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium (VRE), and Gram-negative Escherichia coli (E. coli). Notably, two bis-benzimidazolium salts exhibited robust antimicrobial activity while maintaining a high level of selectivity compared with mammalian cells. Our investigations revealed significant antibiofilm activity, as these compounds rapidly acted against established biofilms. In addition, bis-benzimidazolium compounds exhibited consistent results in resistance development and cross-resistance studies. Consequently, amphiphilic bis-benzimidazolium salts hold promise as potential candidates to combat resistance-associated infections.