Antimicrobial, anti-biofilm and cytotoxic properties of methallyl functionalized benzimidazolium-derived Ag(I)-Nheterocyclic carbene complexes
Özet
Purpose: To investigate the antimicrobial, antibiofilm, and cytotoxicity properties of methallyl substituted
benzimidazolium-based, silver-bound N-heterocyclic carbene (Ag(I)-NHC) complexes, with respect to
their potential to act as antimicrobial agents.
Methods: The antimicrobial, antibiofilm, and cytotoxicity properties of the four complexes, the synthesis
and characterization of which were carried out previously, were investigated. The antimicrobial
properties were tested using the broth microdilution method, while their antibiofilm potential were
determined by microtiter plate assay. The L-929 cell line was used for cytotoxic studies.
Results: Strong antibiofilm and antimicrobial effects were produced by Ag(I)-NHC complexes.
Compounds 2 and 3 showed potent activities against E. coli strain, with effects similar to that of positive
control antibiotic, while compounds 1 and 4 exhibited antimicrobial activity at a concentration of 31.2
μg/mL. The compounds were effective against biofilms formed at concentrations in the range of 32 – 84
%, and degraded mature biofilms at a concentration range of 14 - 66 %. Compounds 1 and 2 did not
significantly affect cell survival (p > 0.05), while compounds 3 and 4 significantly reduced cell survival,
when compared with untreated cells in the control group (p < 0.001).
Conclusion: This study may be one of the few studies on benzimidazolium-derived NHCs. The
compounds which produced antimicrobial, antibiofilm, and cytotoxic properties in this study may be
valuable and novel antimicrobial agents. Therefore, there is need for further in vivo and in vitro studies
on these compounds.