In an effort to improve the antimicrobial activity of norfloxacin, a series of hybrid norfloxacin-thiazolidinedione molecules were synthesized and screened for their direct antimicrobial activity and their anti-biofilm properties. The new hybrids were intended to have a new binding mode to DNA gyrase, that will allow for a more potent antibacterial effect, and for activity against current quinolone-resistant bacterial strains. Moreover, the thiazolidinedione moiety aimed to include additional anti-pathogenicity by preventing biofilm formation. The resulting compounds showed promising direct activity against Gram-negative strains, and anti-biofilm activity against Gram-positive strains. Docking studies and ADMET were also used in order to explain the biological properties and revealed some potential advantages over the parent molecule norfloxacin.
Keywords: DNA gyrase; anti-bacterial; anti-biofilm; antibiotic resistance; fluoroquinolones; norfloxacin; thiazolidinedione.