title: The antimicrobial and antibiofilm activities of copper(II) complexes.
abstract: Biofilm-related bacterial infections pose a significant problem, as they are generally more tolerant to antibiotics and the immune system. Development of novel compounds with antibiofilm activity is therefore paramount. In this study we have analysed metal complexes of the general structure [M(IL)(AL)](2+) (where IL represents functionalised 1,10-phenanthrolines and AL represents 1S,2S- or 1R,2R-diaminocyclohexane) and [Cu(IL)3](2+). Antimicrobial activity was tested on a number of bacterial strains, showing that copper(II) compounds were active against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, albeit that activity was generally higher for the former. The antibiofilm activity was then determined against a clinical isolate of meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Strikingly, the copper complexes tested showed significant activity against biofilms, and were better in the removal of biofilms than vancomycin, an antibiotic that is currently used in the treatment of MRSA infections.
authors.affiliation: University of Bath, Department of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, Claverton Down, Bath BA2 7AY, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Michael L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Beeton
authors.affiliation: University of Western Sydney, School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, South Penrith, Australia.
authors.forename: Janice R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Aldrich-Wright
authors.affiliation: University of Bath, Department of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, Claverton Down, Bath BA2 7AY, United Kingdom. Electronic address: a.bolhuis@bath.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Albert
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bolhuis
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018441:Biofilms / Q000187:drug effects*; D003300:Copper / Q000494:pharmacology*; D055624:Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D003300:Copper
keywords: Antimicrobials; Biofilms; Copper(II) complexes; Meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus