Copper Based Antibacterial Compounds: Potential Targeting Pathways and Current Drug Design Trends.

Abstract

Classical antibacterial drugs were designed to target specific bacterial properties distinct from host human cells to maximize potency and selectivity. These designs were quite effective as they could be easily derivatized to bear next generation drugs. However, the rapid mutation of bacteria and their associated acquired drug resistance have led to the rise of highly pathogenic superbug bac-terial strains for which treatment with first line drugs is no match. More than ever, there is a dire need for antibacterial drug design that goes beyond conventional standards. Taking inspiration by the body’s innate immune response to employ its own supply of labile copper ions in a toxic attack against pathogenic bacteria, which have a very low Cu tolerance, this review article examines the feasibility of Cu-centric strategies for antibacterial preventative and therapeutic applications. Promising results are shown for the use of Cu-containing materials in the hospital setting to minimize patient bacterial infections. Studies directed at disrupting bacterial Cu regulatory pathways elucidate new drug targets that can enable toxic increase of Cu levels and perturb bac-terial dependence on iron. Likewise, Cu intracellular chelation/prochelation strategies effectively induce bacterial Cu toxicity. Cu-based small molecules and nanoparticles demonstrate the im-portance of the Cu ions in their mechanism and display potential synergism with classical drugs.