Synthesis and biological evaluation of novel antimicrobial and antibiofilm agents

Bacterial infections represent a serious threat in the public health due to the emergence of antibiotic-resistant pathogens resulting from the wide use and abuse of antimicrobial agents.1 In addition, bacteria ability to form biofilms increases the difficulties to eradicate the pathogens leading to chronic and resistant infections. Therefore, development of novel candidates active against bacteria in planktonic state, as well as growing in biofilm, represents an important issue. In this context, our interest in the development of novel small molecules endowed with biological activity led us to identify two class of compounds, N-alkyl-L-iminosugars and corticosteroid derivatives (Figure 1) as novel potential antibacterial and antibiofilm agents.