Research Projects

The rise in multi-drug resistant (MDR) bacteria is largely due to the widespread use of antibiotics and the lack of new antimicrobial manufacturing. EsKAPE pathogens, responsible for two-thirds of healthcare-related infections, often escape antibiotics due to their biofilm formation. Researchers are exploring alternative drug delivery systems to combat MDR, using transition metal complexes based on multifunctional organic assembly. D-glucosamine (Glc), a natural amino monosaccharide with excellent biological activity, is being studied due to its unique molecular structure. The amino group can condense with aldehyde substances, creating a schiff base. The addition of sugar to the schiff base structure could produce medications with less cytotoxicity and enhanced biological activity. Glc's large number of hydroxyl groups could increase water solubility, making it a promising candidate for drug delivery. schiff bases are selective metal chelators, and complexing them with 3D transition biometals could significantly increase their activity. Recent publications have identified anti-biofilm activity against MRsA and P. aeruginosa using anthracene-based zinc complexes. The development of Glc-based schiff base conjugated heavy metal complexes has been motivated by these findings. However, there are no significant findings on the detailed anti-biofilm activity of these complexes against MDR pathogens. Two such complexes have been designed using Zn(II) and Cu(II) metals, exhibiting notable antibacterial and anti-biofilm properties against MRsA, P. aeruginosa, E. coli, and K. pneumoniae. The proposed method aims to synthesize Glc-based schiff base conjugated metal complexes as effective anti-microbial and anti-biofilm agents against MDR EsKAPE pathogens and their clinical isolates.