Fluoroquinolone-Based Organic Salts (GUMBOS) with Antibacterial Potential

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Pharmaceutical Science
• Infectious Diseases

Background:

• Antimicrobial resistance is a growing global public health crisis requiring novel therapeutic strategies.
• Conventional antibiotics are becoming less effective, necessitating the development of alternative treatments.
• Groups of Uniform Materials Based on Organic Salts (GUMBOS) offer a platform for combining antimicrobials with non-antibiotic adjuvants.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize and characterize ciprofloxacin and moxifloxacin-based GUMBOS.
• To evaluate the antibacterial activity, cytotoxicity, and hemolytic properties of these novel GUMBOS.
• To explore the potential of GUMBOS as an alternative strategy for combating antimicrobial resistance.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of GUMBOS via anion exchange reactions using lithium and sodium salts.
• Structural characterization, thermal stability assessment, and determination of octanol/water partition ratios.
• In vitro testing of antibacterial activity against *S. aureus* and *E. coli*, cytotoxicity assays using L929 fibroblast cells, and hemolytic assays.

Main Results:

• Most synthesized GUMBOS exhibited antibacterial profiles comparable to their parent fluoroquinolones against *S. aureus* and *E. coli*.
• The deoxycholate anion resulted in the least effective antibacterial activity among the tested GUMBOS.
• Certain GUMBOS demonstrated reduced cytotoxicity and were non-hemolytic, indicating improved safety profiles.

Conclusions:

• GUMBOS represent a promising alternative approach for combining antibiotics with adjuvants.
• These materials can potentially enhance the effectiveness of antimicrobial treatments and suppress resistance development.
• The developed GUMBOS show potential for use in treating infections caused by drug-resistant bacteria.