Preparation, Characterization, and Antimicrobial Activities of Mixed Ibuprofen-Salicylic Acid Metal-Drug Complexes

Abstract

Most variants of bacteria are resistant to traditional antibiotics which are organic. To overcome the growing infections, bacteria resistant infections, and multiple drug resistance (MDR) rates, transition metals with biological importance were coordinated to organic ligands (Ibuprofen and Salicylic acid) with anti-inflammatory properties. In this study, metal complexes of mixed Ibuprofen and Salicylic acid were prepared using a standard method to give of the type [M(Ibu)(Sal)X] (where M = Fe^2+, Ni²⁺, Cu²⁺, and X = Cl₂, Ibu = Ibuprofen, Sal = Salicylic acid). The complexes were characterized by UV-visible spectroscopy, conductivity measurements, melting points, FT-IR, and X-ray diffraction. The metal ions are coordinated to the ligands via the carboxylato oxygen donor atoms of both ligands. From the physicochemical data, the complexes are non-electrolytes. The XRD study suggested that the metal complexes possess a well-defined crystalline structure with average crystallite sizes of < 62 nm. Evaluations of the antimicrobial activities of the ligands and their complexes against gram-positive bacteria (S. aureus, B. subtilis,  S. faecalis) and gram-negative bacteria (K. pneumonia, E. coli, and  P. aeroginosa) via standard method were utilized to determine the zones of inhibition. The complexes exhibited a higher zone of inhibition, indicating higher antimicrobial activities when compared to the parent ligand. The results revealed that the metal-drug complexes are promising chemotherapeutic agents with wide spectrum of activities.

Keywords: Metal-drug complexes; Ibuprofen; Spectra studies; Salicylic acid; Antimicrobial activity