ISSN print edition: 0366-6352 ISSN electronic edition: 1336-9075 Registr. No.: MK SR 9/7 Published monthly

The therapeutic potential of hybrid molecules against drug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii

Yafei Zhuang, Junna Liu, Yanjing Cheng, Fei Cai, and Zhi Xu

School of Pharmacy, Xianning Medical College, Hubei University of Science and Technology, Xianning, China

E-mail: cf@hbust.edu.cn

Received: 26 August 2024  Accepted: 19 February 2025

Abstract:

Acinetobacter baumannii as a critical priority gram-negative opportunistic pathogen has gained notoriety in recent decades, primarily due to its propensity to cause severe nosocomial infections. Acinetobacter baumannii is characterized by increased levels of resistance toward multiple classes of first-line and last-resort antibiotics, making it a serious threat to public health worldwide. Hybrid molecules, consist of two or more different pharmacophores, are able to modulate multiple targets simultaneously. Accordingly, hybrid molecules have the potential to overcome drug resistance, enhance the activity, improve pharmacokinetic properties and reduce the toxicity, and rational design of hybrid molecules is a promising strategy to provide potential prototypes for clinical deployment in the control and eradication of infections caused by drug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii. The purpose of the present review article is to provide an emphasis on the current scenario (2020–present) of hybrid molecules with therapeutic potential against drug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii, to open new avenues for the exploration of novel candidates to fight against drug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii.

Graphical abstract

This review outlines the current innovations of hybrid molecules with therapeutic potential against drug-resistant A. baumannii pathogens and discusses various aspects of structure–activity relationships.

Keywords: Combination drug therapy; Interlocked Molecules; Nucleic Acid Therapeutics; Pharmaceutics; Small Molecules; Antibacterial drug resistance; Hybrid molecules; Drug resistance; Acinetobacter baumannii; Antibacterial

Full paper is available at www.springerlink.com.

DOI: 10.1007/s11696-025-04034-3

Chemical Papers 79 (6) 3547–3561 (2025)