Copper(I)–NHCs complexes: Synthesis, Characterization and their Inhibition Against the Biofilm Formation of Streptococcus mutans

Abstract With the goal of developing high-efficiency oral antimicrobial agents to prevent S. mutans biofilm formation, a collection of copper(I)-N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) complexes with different substitutions was synthesized and characterized. Their inhibitory activities of Cu1–Cu7 were screened. It was found that Cu1 provided significant excellent performance, which suggested that the less lipophilic and less sterically hindered copper complexes would be effective towards the bacteria. This study demonstrates the great potential of copper(I)-containing small molecule complexes as broad-spectrum inhibitors to treat oral bacteria, especially for diminishing S. mutans biofilm formation, which opens promising perspectives for the development of new metal-NHCs for controlling the biofilm formation associated with pathogens.