Antibacterial Action of Mixed-ligand Imidazole - Phenanthroline Copper Complex

Background: Multidrug Resistance (MDR) of microorganisms is the biggest pharmacological challenge, despite plenty of modern antibiotics. Obviously, new classes of antimicrobial drugs against MDR pathogens need to be developed. Objective: This work aimed to investigate the antibacterial properties of the novel copper-based complex - bisimidazoles - (1,10) phenanthroline cuprum (II) dichloride - [CuPhenIm2]Cl2. Material & Methods: The complex - bisimidazoles-(1,10)phenanthroline cuprum (II) dichloride - [Cu- Phen-Im2]Cl2 was synthetized for the experiment. The structure was identified by elemental analysis and IR spectroscopy. The antibacterial properties of the copper complex were investigated by agar diffusion and serial dilution methods with the following bacteria strains Staphylococcus haemolyticus (ATCC 29970), Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25923), Proteus vulgaris (ATCC 13315), Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 27853) and Mycobacterium bovis (Valle). Antituberculosis activity test included evaluation of bacterial growth on Lowenstein Jensen media with a serial dilution of copper complex, within an observation period of 90 days. Results: The prospect copper complex showed significant antibacterial activity. The most susceptible to copper action were strains of S.haemolyticus and S.aureus. The bisimidazoles - (1,10) phenanthroline cuprum (II) dichloride revealed moderate bactericidal action against Mycobacteria bovis. Conclusion: Most of the tested bacterial pathogens were highly susceptible to the novel copper substance. A detailed assessment of the biological action in in vivo is further required.