Boron-Containing Compounds (BCCs) as Antibacterials

Recently, new bacteria have emerged due to environmental problems caused by many factors. At this point, opportunistic pathogens that previously posed no threat have undergone a shift in their geographical distribution over time due to climate-related factors. Thus, developing new antibiotic resistance (AMR) strains has become an important objective. In this context, developing new antibacterial agents to control these new bacteria is considered a very important goal. However, it is also crucial to prevent the reproduction or growth of these bacteria and to ensure their safety in animal cells for use in patients. For this, there is an urgent need to develop potential drug candidates that have demonstrated beneficial results in vivo and in vitro medicinal applications. In recent years, crucial studies have shown new antibiotic drug candidates; among these, boron-containing compounds (BCCs) exhibit promising developments and are beginning to be used in the design of pharmacologically active molecules. Studies have shown that the use of BCCs as effective antibiotic drug candidates, and as a result, it has been determined that they exhibit antibacterial activities through various mechanisms of action. However, due to the mistaken belief among some researchers that boron is toxic, the applications of BCCs in different health fields were delayed for a certain period. On the other hand, experimental and clinical studies on different applications of BCCs as antibiotic drug candidates have shown them as safe agents used in animals, including humans; moreover, they are versatile molecules and can play an effective role in antibacterial drug design. This chapter focuses on identifying BCCs as antibiotic drug candidates, their antibacterial properties, and additional data regarding their pharmacology profiles.