Biguanide Iridium(III) Complexes with Potent Antimicrobial Activity

J Med Chem. 2018 Aug 23;61(16):7330-7344. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.8b00906. Epub 2018 Aug 2.

Abstract

We have synthesized novel organoiridium(III) antimicrobial complexes containing a chelated biguanide, including the antidiabetic drug metformin. These 16- and 18-electron complexes were characterized by NMR, ESI-MS, elemental analysis, and X-ray crystallography. Several of these complexes exhibit potent activity against Gram-negative bacteria and Gram-positive bacteria (including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)) and high antifungal potency toward C. albicans and C. neoformans, with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) in the nanomolar range. Importantly, the complexes exhibit low cytotoxicity toward mammalian cells, indicating high selectivity. They are highly stable in broth medium, with a low tendency to generate resistance mutations. On coadministration, they can restore the activity of vancomycin against vancomycin-resistant Enterococci (VRE). Also the complexes can disrupt and eradicate bacteria in mature biofilms. Investigations of reactions with biomolecules suggest that these organometallic complexes deliver active biguanides into microorganisms, whereas the biguanides themselves are inactive when administered alone.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / chemical synthesis
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / chemistry*
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology*
  • Antifungal Agents / chemical synthesis
  • Antifungal Agents / chemistry*
  • Antifungal Agents / pharmacology*
  • Biofilms / drug effects
  • Crystallography, X-Ray
  • Drug Resistance, Bacterial / drug effects
  • Guanine / analogs & derivatives
  • Guanine / chemistry
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Hemolysis / drug effects
  • Humans
  • Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions
  • Iridium / chemistry*
  • Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
  • Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / drug effects
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Microscopy, Confocal
  • Organometallic Compounds / chemical synthesis
  • Organometallic Compounds / chemistry
  • Organometallic Compounds / pharmacology
  • Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization
  • Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococci / drug effects

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Antifungal Agents
  • Organometallic Compounds
  • Iridium
  • Guanine
  • 9-ethylguanine