Evaluation of Antibacterial Activity of Different Porphyrins Containing Transition Metals at the Core: Unveiling the Potent Metalloporphyrins as Antimicrobial Agents

Abstract

The foundation of healthcare has been the use of antibiotics to treat bacterial infections; however, the growing number of infections resistant to these drugs has raised serious concerns. Innovative antimicrobial strategies that are safe, minimally invasive, and able to act quickly and efficiently are needed to address this urgent problem and provide a substitute for conventional antibiotics in the fight against this growing health emergency. Metalloporphyrins are emerging photosensitizers, utilized in antimicrobial photodynamic therapy, using visible light and photosensitive compounds to cause oxidative damage to microbial organisms. Metalloporphyrins are minimally toxic molecules that can target microbial pathogens through a variety of distinct mechanisms. We synthesized an electronically activated and sterically protected catalyst, meso-tetrakis(2,6-dichlorophenyl-β-octabromo) porphyrins and inserted different metals into the porphyrin cavity. Evaluation of the antibacterial activity of our catalyst towards various Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria revealed bactericidal activity.