Recent advances in the development of metal complexes as antibacterial agents with metal-specific modes of action
Jessica E. Waters, Lars Stevens‐Cullinane, Lukas Siebenmann, Jeannine Hess
Abstract
The mounting burden of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the most concerning threats to public health worldwide. With low economic incentives and a dwindling supply of new drugs in clinical pipelines, more innovative approaches to novel drug design and development are desperately required. Metal-based compounds are rapidly emerging as an alternative to organic drugs, as they have the ability to kill pathogens via metal-specific modes of action. We herein review recent advances in metal-based antibacterial agents, including metal complexes, metal ions and catalytic metallodrugs. The review concludes with a perspective on the rational design of metal-based antibiotics, and how we can exploit their unique properties to tackle AMR.