The
preparation of cocrystals from active pharmaceutical ingredients
(APIs) and biologically relevant coformers offers the opportunity
of obtaining compounds with more desirable physicochemical and biological
properties. This work focuses on theophylline–trimesic
acid, caffeine–isophthalic acid, and caffeine–trimesic
acid cocrystals. All the cocrystals were produced via slow evaporation
and were characterized using Fourier transform infrared, differential
scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, and single-crystal
X-ray diffraction. Structural characterization revealed that interactions
such as CO···H, N···H···O,
π–π, and C–H···π between
the APIs and coformers significantly contribute to crystal packing.
Density functional theory studies further revealed the electronic
properties of cocrystals, as well as the functional groups that enhance
their solubility. Drug activity through the weak groove-binding mode
was realized through docking studies of the cocrystals with the DNA
structure (Protein Data Bank identifier 1ZEW). Similarly, major interactions, including
hydrogen bonding and π-π bonding, were observed between
cocrystals and 4HL2, a New Delhi metallo-β-lactamase-1 produced
by resistant clinical strains of K. pneumoniae. Biological
studies revealed cocrystals with antimicrobial properties, particularly
against clinically relevant gram-negative bacterial pathogens (Acinetobacter baumannii, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Pseudomonas
aeruginosa). So, these compounds represent a novel promising
group of anti-infective agents.