Exploring the Co-Crystallization of Kojic Acid with Silver(I), Copper(II), Zinc(II), and Gallium(III) for Potential Antibacterial Applications

• Published in: Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Vol. 28; no. 3; p. 1244
• Main Authors: Sun, Renren, Casali, Lucia, Turner, Raymond J, Braga, Dario, Grepioni, Fabrizia
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 27.01.2023; MDPI
• Subjects: Acids; Anti-Bacterial Agents - chemistry; Anti-Bacterial Agents - pharmacology; Anti-Infective Agents - pharmacology; Antimicrobial activity; Antimicrobial agents; antimicrobial metals; antimicrobials; Bacteria; Ball milling; Biocides; Cations; Cocrystallization; Coordination Complexes - chemistry; Coordination Complexes - pharmacology; Coordination polymers; Copper; Copper - chemistry; Cosmetics; Crystal structure; Crystallization; Escherichia coli; Gallium; Gallium - pharmacology; Kojic acid; Ligands; Metal ions; Nitrates; Polymers; Silver; Silver - chemistry; Silver - pharmacology; Single crystals; Slurries; Staphylococcus aureus; Syphilis; X ray powder diffraction; X-ray diffraction; Zinc; Zinc - chemistry; co-crystallization; mechanochemistry; copper; silver; antimicrobial metals; antimicrobials; gallium; zinc
• ISSN: 1420-3049; 1420-3049
• DOI: 10.3390/molecules28031244

Co-crystallization of kojic acid (HKA) with silver(I), copper(II), zinc(II), or gallium(III) salts yielded three 1D coordination polymers and one 0D complex in which kojic acid was present as a neutral or anionic terminal or bridging ligand. All reactions were conducted mechanochemically via ball milling and manual grinding, or via slurry. All solids were fully characterized via single-crystal and/or powder X-ray diffraction. As kojic acid is a mild antimicrobial compound that is widely used in cosmetics, and the metal cations possess antibacterial properties, their combinations were tested for potential antibacterial applications. The minimal inhibition concentrations (MICs) and minimal biocidal concentrations (MBCs) for all compounds were measured against standard strains of the bacteria , , and . All compounds exerted appreciable antimicrobial activity in the order of silver, zinc, copper, and gallium complexes.