Metal Complexes—A Promising Approach to Target Biofilm Associated Infections

Abstract

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.

Zinc(II) Carboxylate Coordination Polymers with Versatile Applications

“…Nowadays, bacterial infections and multi-drug resistance have become a matter of global concern, with many complexes being screened in order to overcome this issue [ 137 ]. Among the evaluated complexes, Zn(II) containing ones are taken into consideration due to the biocidal effect of this ion [ 138 ].…”

Untitled

“…Microbial biofilm development on tissues or medical devices represents an advantage in the case of bacterial pathogens, as they protect them from immune effector and antimicrobial substances and, simultaneously, are permanent reservoirs of infections, especially in the case of a medical device [11]. Therefore, biofilm inhibition is a major drug target for treating various bacterial and fungal infections.…”

Biofilm-forming ability and methicillin resistance among Staphylococci isolated from various surfaces in community settings

“…We believe that unlike the CV tube adherence test, the CRA test is a much more subjective method. Among the most significant factors that influence the staphylococci ability to form biofilm are the type of surface and its characteristics, the site of development, microenvironmental conditions (humidity, temperature, ionic strength and pH), nutrient type and concentration, network design and composition, strain type and heterogeneity (Kramer et al, 2014;Olar et al 2022).This research has shown that the biofilm-forming ability was not connected with methicillin resistance in staphylococci and revealed a low percentage of staphylococcal strains (39.62% in CV tube adherence method and 44.12% in CRA method) that use both ways of protection against unfavorable external factors. These results are consistent with other studies that did not show association between antimicrobial resistance and the biofilm-forming capacity of staphylococci (Singhai et al, 2012, Cabrera-Contreras et al, 2013Chon et al, 2020;Tahaei et al, 2021).…”