Exploring antibiotics as ligands in metal-organic and hydrogen bonding frameworks: Our novel approach towards enhanced antimicrobial activity (mini-review)

Even though antibiotics were a major breakthrough a few decades ago, leading to a drastic reduction of deaths caused by infectious diseases, this class of compounds is nowadays demanding for a new approach as their efficiency has been challenged. Different approaches have been explored to increase the effectiveness of the antibiotics. The development of bio-inspired metal-organic frameworks and antibiotic coordination frameworks have been revealing promising results, showing that these novel forms of already existing antibiotics can tune their properties at the same time that may also increase their antimicrobial activity, maintaining their stability and cytotoxicity. Amongst other results, it is worth to highlight that: (i) the coordination of potassium to azelaic acid led to an increased activity against the Gram-positive bacteria Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis responsible for skin infections; (ii) the coordination of transition and alkali earth metals (Ca(II), Zn (II), Mn(II), and Mg(II)) to quinolone antibiotics (nalidixic and pipemidic acids) revealed increased activity against different Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria.

Automated summary

The efficiency of antibiotics is now being challenged and new approaches are needed. The development of bio-inspired metal-organic frameworks and antibiotic coordination frameworks show promising results in increasing antibiotic effectiveness.