Antibacterial therapy: From conventional antibiotics to metallodrugs against bacterial resistance
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.54167/tch.v20i1.2312Keywords:
antibiotic, metal complex, bacterial resistance, antibacterial, bacteriaAbstract
This review article discusses the evolution of antibiotics and current strategies to address bacterial resistance. The topic is framed from the historical use of antimicrobial substances to the consolidation of the modern concept of antibiotics. Antibiotics are classified by structure and mechanism of action, emphasizing essential targets: the cell wall, nucleic acid synthesis, metabolic pathways, and protein synthesis. The review also briefly covers mechanisms of intrinsic, acquired, and adaptive resistance, such as target modification, reduced permeability, efflux pumps, enzymatic inactivation, and biofilms. Finally, it compiles studies in which conventional antibiotics are coordinated to metal centers (e.g., Cu(II), Zn(II), Co(II), Ni(II) among others) to improve solubility and stability and, in some cases, enhance activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Overall, these approaches aim to reposition known drugs through coordination chemistry and advanced formulation, supported by rigorous efficacy assessment.
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