Design, synthesis, antibacterial activity and toxicity of novel quaternary ammonium compounds based on pyridoxine and fatty acids

A diverse series of 43 novel “soft antimicrobials” based on quaternary ammonium pyridoxine derivatives which include six-membered acetals and ketals of pyridoxine bound via cleavable linker moieties (amide, ester) with a fragment of fatty carboxylic acid was designed. Nine compounds exhibited in vitro promising antibacterial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial strains with MIC values comparable with reference antiseptics miramistin, benzalkonium chloride and chlorohexidine. On various clinical isolates, the lead compounds 6i and 12a exhibited antibacterial activity comparable with that of benzalkonium chloride while higher than that of miramistin. Moreover, 6i and 12a were able to kill bacteria embedded into the matrix of mono- and dual species biofilms. The treatment of bacterial cells by either 6i and 12a lead to fast depolarization of the membrane suggesting that the membrane is an apparent molecular target of compounds. 6i and 12a were non mutagenic neither in SOS-chromotest nor in Ames test and non-toxic in vivo at acute oral (LD50 > 2000 mg/kg) and cutaneous administration (LD50 > 2500 mg/kg) on mice. Taken together, our data allow suggesting described active compounds as promising starting point for the new antibacterial agents development. [Display omitted] •Design and synthesis of novel “soft antimicrobials” based on quaternary ammonium pyridoxine derivatives.•The compounds exhibited in vitro promising antibacterial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial strains.•Lead compounds 6i and 12a exhibited promising antibacterial activity on clinical isolates and bacterial biofilms.•Lead compounds 6i and 12a were non mutagenic neither in SOS-chromotest nor in Ames test and non-toxic in vivo.