title: Antimicrobial resistance challenged with metal-based antimicrobial macromolecules.
abstract: Antimicrobial resistance threatens the achievements of science and medicine, as it deactivates conventional antimicrobial therapeutics. Scientists respond to the threat by developing new antimicrobial platforms to prevent and treat infections from these resistant strains. Metal-based antimicrobial macromolecules are emerging as an alternative to conventional platforms because they combine multiple mechanisms of action into one platform due to the distinctive properties of metals. For example, metals interact with intracellular proteins and enzymes, and catalyse various intracellular processes. The macromolecular architecture offers a means to enhance antimicrobial activity since several antimicrobial moieties can be conjugated to the scaffold. Further, these macromolecules can be fabricated into antimicrobial materials for contact-killing medical implants, fabrics, and devices. As volatilization or leaching out of the antimicrobial moieties from the macromolecular scaffold is reduced, these medical implants, fabrics, and devices can retain their antimicrobial activity over an extended period. Recent advances demonstrate the potential of metal-based antimicrobial macromolecules as effective platforms that prevent and treat infections from resistant strains. In this review these advances are thoroughly discussed within the context of examples of metal-based antimicrobial macromolecules, their mechanisms of action and biocompatibility.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Prince Edward Island, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, C1A 4P3, Canada. Electronic address: abdelaziz@upei.ca.
authors.forename: Alaa S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Abd-El-Aziz
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Prince Edward Island, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, C1A 4P3, Canada.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Agatemor
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Prince Edward Island, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, C1A 4P3, Canada.
authors.forename: Nola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Etkin
mesh_terms: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018407:Bacterial Physiological Phenomena / Q000187:drug effects*; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D046911:Macromolecular Substances / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000494:pharmacology*; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles; D008670:Metals / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D008670:Metals
keywords: Antimicrobial resistance; Contact-killing materials; Metal-based antimicrobial macromolecules; Metal-based antimicrobial polymers; Organometallic antimicrobial compounds